PD IEC TS 63019-2019 PDF

Full title and description

IEC TS 63019:2019 — Photovoltaic power systems (PVPS) - Information model for availability. This technical specification defines a common information model and framework for deriving and reporting availability metrics of photovoltaic power systems, including generic information categories, category priority rules, and entry/exit rules for assigning time to availability states across the PVPS and its functional elements.

Abstract

IEC TS 63019:2019 provides normative guidance to standardize how availability and production-related time categories are defined, prioritized and recorded for a PVPS (photovoltaic modules, inverters, collection systems, grid interconnection, site infrastructure and functional services). The document includes formulas, examples and annexes to guide the calculation or estimation of time‑based availability metrics while leaving specific metric implementation choices to stakeholders.

General information

• Status: Technical Specification (active / published).
• Publication date: 9 May 2019.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), prepared by TC 82 (Solar photovoltaic energy systems).
• ICS / categories: 27.160 (Solar energy engineering).
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2019).
• Number of pages: 72 pages (PDF).

Scope

The specification provides a framework from which availability metrics for a PVPS can be derived and reported. It describes how operational time data should be categorized (availability, unavailability, production-related states), how concurrent categories are discriminated by priority, and how entry/exit points for categories are allocated so that time can be consistently assigned to information categories for the whole PVPS. The PVPS scope includes PV modules, inverters, DC/AC collection, grid interconnection equipment, site infrastructure and all functional service elements. The document gives formulas and informative annexes with examples and guiding principles for calculating or estimating availability metrics.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions of generic information categories for PVPS availability and production (how time is classified and recorded).
• Priority rules to resolve concurrent or overlapping category assignments.
• Entry and exit point rules for each information category to allocate time precisely to categories.
• Normative formulas and guidance for deriving time-based availability metrics, with informative annexes providing calculation examples and recommended practices.
• Applicability to the full PVPS (modules, inverters, collection systems, grid connection, site infrastructure and service elements) while not prescribing a single mandatory metric implementation.

Typical use and users

Asset owners and operators, O&M teams, system integrators, performance engineers, researchers, certification bodies and regulators use IEC TS 63019 as a reference for consistently defining, measuring and reporting PV system availability. The specification is useful when establishing contractual availability targets, building monitoring and data‑reporting systems, comparing availability across sites, and harmonizing reporting between stakeholders.

Related standards

IEC TS 63019 is complementary to other PV and test/documentation standards. Notable related standards include: IEC 61724-1 (photovoltaic system performance monitoring — monitoring methods and data requirements), IEC 62446-1 (PV system testing, documentation and commissioning/inspection requirements), and inverter/module standards such as IEC 62109 (safety of power converters for PV systems) and IEC 61215 (PV module design qualification and type approval). These documents together support measurement, documentation, safety and product qualification practices that feed into availability assessments.

Keywords

photovoltaic power systems, PVPS, availability, availability metrics, uptime, downtime, monitoring, performance reporting, TC 82, information model.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC TS 63019:2019 is a Technical Specification that defines an information model and framework for deriving and reporting availability metrics of photovoltaic power systems (PVPS). It standardizes categories, priority rules and entry/exit rules used to assign time to availability states.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the classification of operational time into generic information categories for availability and production, rules to prioritize concurrent categories, entry and exit point definitions for assigning time, and illustrative formulas and annex examples for calculating or estimating availability metrics across the PVPS. It applies to modules, inverters, collection systems, grid interconnection, site infrastructure and functional services.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Users include asset owners, operators, O&M providers, performance engineers, system integrators, researchers, certification bodies and regulators who need consistent methods to measure, report and compare PV system availability.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC TS 63019:2019 was published on 9 May 2019 and is an active Technical Specification; the IEC webstore lists the document and its bibliographic data (stability/confirmation dates are managed on the IEC site). Stakeholders should check the IEC webstore or national mirror bodies for the latest status or any subsequent revisions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It sits within the suite of IEC work on photovoltaic power systems produced by TC 82 and complements other PV standards addressing monitoring (IEC 61724‑1), testing and documentation (IEC 62446‑1), inverter safety (IEC 62109) and module qualification (IEC 61215). It is not itself a multipart standard but is intended to be used with related PV standards where appropriate.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Photovoltaic power systems (PVPS), availability, availability metrics, uptime, downtime, monitoring, information model, TC 82.