Solar Technology II: Quality Testing & Reliability of Solar Modules & Balance of Systems

Patrick Zank is an experienced project engineer and senior consultant specializing in battery and energy storage systems. He holds a degree in industrial engineering with a focus on materials science, where his research focused on the impact of new manufacturing technologies on materials testing. Since 2020, Patrick has been with VDE, where he first led technical due diligence and system consulting for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). He later advanced to the role of Senior Battery Consultant, providing in-depth expertise. Patrick is also an expert at DKE, the German standardization body, where he plays a key role in the development and enhancement of electrotechnical standards. He is a member of the Battery Passport consortium, which is shaping the guidelines for the EU Battery Regulation, aiming to balance sustainability objectives with industry feasibility. In addition to his technical roles, Patrick serves as the Business Development Manager at VDE Renewables, overseeing departments related to PV, BESS, and Grid Conformity. His work focuses on risk reduction through technical expertise, fostering trust with all stakeholders, and driving innovation in the energy sector

Tristan brings almost 20 years of solar and electrical industry experience to Kiwa PVEL. As VP of Sales and Marketing, he oversees Kiwa PVEL's commercial activities and collaborates with PV module buyers, investors, research institutions and manufacturers to develop innovative performance and reliability test programs for product qualification. Tristan previously served as Product and Quality Manager for Silfab Solar, where he oversaw Silfab's extended reliability testing and was responsible for new product development and new material qualification. He has also directed equipment procurement and technical site operations for solar project developers and Independent Power Producers at a range of projects across North America, South America and Asia.

Steven Xuereb is a renewable energy professional who has twenty-four years of experience both in the solar and wind industries. Currently he is an Executive Director of Kiwa PI Berlin, leading the sales and project delivery departments, focusing on delivering independent engineering services for large scale solar plants. Before joining Kiwa PI Berlin, Steven spent eight years procuring and developing solar and wind projects in North America, Chile and South Africa. His experience in the industry includes greenfield development, acquisitions, contracts management, research and development, certification and service operations. He is a mechanical engineer with a Master's degree in renewable energy from the Universities of Oldenburg and Kassel.

George Touloupas is Vice President, ESG and New Services in CEA. Since 2010 George has been active in technical consulting for PV and energy storage projects, as well as in PV manufacturing, EPC and project development. He joined CEA in 2015 and has previously led the technology and quality team for solar and energy storage. Prior to CEA, he held positions as Chief Operating & Technical Officer at Philadelphia Solar in Jordan, as Technical Operations Director at Recom and as an EPC and project developer in Greece.

Anna Heimsath heads the department "Analysis Modules and PV Power Plants" at Fraunhofer ISE. In the department, more than 70 scientists, technicians and students conduct research on pv power plants and integrated pv, with a focus on agrivoltaics, floating pv and quality assurance. Anna Heimsath has been researching development of solar technologies for more than 18 years. She studied production engineering at the University of Bremen and later earned her doctorate in physics.

Since 2022 Dr. Ingrid Hädrich is leading the group "Degradation Analysis and Modelling" within the department for "Material Characterization and Reliability" at Fraunhofer ISE. She received her PHD degree from the Australia National University in 2019 on the topic of yield modeling of PV modules. From 2010 to 2015, Ms. Hädrich already led a team for the development of novel module concepts and module efficiency at Fraunhofer ISE. With her current group, Ms. Hädrich is working on the analysis of aging effects in module materials, the testing of PV modules according to IEC standards and the further development of test methods for novel module structures and module applications.