This conference is building on previous successful annual conferences. It centers on the science and technology of reliability of photovoltaic (PV) cells, modules, components, and systems with emphasis on attaining a long service lifetime and providing a basis for product warranties. The aim of this meeting is to bring together material scientists, chemists, physicists, engineers, and technologists to discuss and review PV module and system reliability. This year, the scope includes fuel cells, batteries, and other storage options. Papers are also being solicited in the area of smart grids as they relate to PV. 

The scope of the conference will cover the reliability of photovoltaic cells and modules, encapsulants, front and back sheets, transparent conductive oxides, non-destructive analytical tools such as optical spectroscopy (reflectance/transmittance, Raman, FTIR, fluorescence, microscopy), electrical testing (I-V, impedance spectroscopy), destructive analysis for assessment of thermal properties, chemical composition, permeation and diffusion, mechanical properties, modern imaging methods (like electroluminescence, photoluminescence and thermography), accelerated stress testing, degradation modes and mechanisms, global distribution of degradation factors based on satellite weather data and other sources, quality assurance, standards, lifetime predictions, concentrator optics and receivers, smart grids, and BOS components such as inverters, connectors and fuses.