In 2026, analysts expect more than 43 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity to come online in the United States as electricity demand rises from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, electrification, and industrial growth. Against this backdrop, RETC, part of the VDE Group, released its 2026 PV Module Index (PVMI) Report, providing independent, comparative data on photovoltaic (PV) modules across reliability, performance, and quality metrics. The findings reflect a broader industry transition from focusing primarily on deployment scale to understanding how solar assets will perform reliably over 25- to 35-year asset lifecycles and how performance deviations may affect long-term project economics and asset value.
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The 2026 PV Module Index Report evaluates photovoltaic modules using extended stress testing designed to identify reliability and performance risks that may not appear in standard certification testing.
Within RETC’s customer portfolio, 19 manufacturers earned recognition in the 2026 PV Module Index across multiple testing disciplines and award categories. Thirteen manufacturers achieved Overall Highest Achiever status, while additional manufacturers received recognition through High Achievement in Performance and individual Test Category High Achievement distinctions, reflecting the rigorous qualification standards applied throughout the program.
“Certifications require products to meet a minimum baseline standard; however, they do not necessarily address how assets will perform throughout their projected lifetime in the field, specifically in recent years, under increasingly extreme conditions,” said Cherif Kedir, CEO of RETC. “In 2026, solar is now both critical infrastructure and a commoditized product, which makes quality differentiation paramount for long-term reliability, consistency, and performance. Stakeholders require more confidence that the products being deployed today will continue performing reliably over decades, especially as new manufacturing scales rapidly and new materials and supply chains hastily enter the market.”
Based on testing conducted between Q2 of 2025 and Q1 of 2026, the 2026 PVMI evaluates PV modules using RETC’s extended real-world testing protocols designed to identify potential long-term reliability and performance risks that may not appear in standard certification testing. The report highlights several emerging trends shaping solar procurement, manufacturing, and risk evaluation decisions across the industry.
“What we are seeing is an industry moving from a deployment story to a performance and risk management story,” continued Kedir. “The PVMI gives developers, financiers, and asset owners a clearer view of which modules perform under extended stress conditions designed to reflect the realities they will face in the field.”
The 2026 Photovoltaic Module Index Report highlights several reliability and performance trends emerging from RETC’s extended laboratory testing, including:
- More than 10% of photovoltaic module test samples returned failing “red-flag” results in the 2,000-hour damp heat test category
- For the second consecutive year, approximately 8.3% photovoltaic module test samples exhibited unacceptable levels of ultraviolet-induced degradation
- RETC observed year-over-year increases in red-flag results across damp heat, potential-induced degradation, static and dynamic mechanical load, and thermal cycling test categories
- These laboratory-observed wearout mechanisms and failure modes provide additional context for negative field-performance trends observed by the technical due diligence community
The report also examines how rapid solar deployment, evolving manufacturing practices, and changing global supply chains are reshaping expectations around solar reliability and bankability. In addition to RETC’s technical analysis, the 2026 PVMI features contributions from leading industry voices, including Finlay Colville of Terawatt PV Research and Kelly Pickerel of Solar Power World, who explore emerging trends influencing solar manufacturing, performance, and project risk.
Colville will also serve as a guest speaker at the Annual PVMI Awards Banquet on Thursday, June 4, 2026, held in conjunction with SNEC 2026 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center in Shanghai, China. To schedule a meeting with the RETC team at the show, reach out to info@retc.com or visit www.retc-ca.com. To learn more about RETC and access the full 2026 PV Module Index Report, visit https://retc-ca.com/pvmi.
About RETC, part of the VDE Group
RETC is an independent testing and certification laboratory specializing in solar and energy storage products. Since 2009, renewable energy manufacturers, developers, financiers, and independent engineers have relied on RETC to generate trusted, third-party data for evaluating product performance, reliability, and bankability. Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., with facilities in Tempe, Ariz., RETC is part of the VDE Group and supports global testing and certification efforts across the energy transition and an expanding range of market segments.
By providing independent, defensible data for photovoltaic (PV) modules, inverters, battery energy storage components, and racking products, RETC helps reduce friction across operational functions. From technical diligence and stakeholder alignment to accelerated market adoption of proven technologies, RETC results and reports inform stakeholders on what products are suitable for large-scale renewable energy deployment. Specifically, the company’s Thresher Test Program is widely utilized to assess the long-term durability of solar panel technologies and to inform procurement, financing, and insurance decisions.
For more information, visit www.retc-ca.com.
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