Most PV cables are designed to operate outdoors for more than 25 years. During their service life, they are exposed to UV radiation, high temperatures, humidity, sand, ozone, and mechanical stress. Therefore, international standards set strict requirements for the performance of PV cable materials.
Currently, the two most widely recognized standards are EN 50618 and IEC 62930. Although these standards share many technical requirements, they differ in their development background, certification systems, and key focuses. This article explains their similarities and differences from the perspectives of standard development, technical requirements, material selection, certification, and industry applications.
EN 50618 is a PV cable standard published by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). It mainly applies to H1Z2Z2-K PV cables used in the European market.
The standard specifies the technical requirements for PV cables used in 1500 V DC systems, including cable construction, mechanical properties, electrical performance, environmental resistance, and flame-retardant performance. It is one of the most widely adopted standards for photovoltaic projects in Europe.
IEC 62930 is an international PV cable standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It is currently the most widely used PV cable standard in the global market.
IEC 62930 incorporates most of the technical requirements of EN 50618 while considering different climate conditions around the world. It enables PV cables to perform reliably in deserts, cold regions, humid environments, and coastal areas with high salt exposure. As a result, more and more international solar projects specify IEC 62930 as their purchasing standard.
Today, most leading PV cable manufacturers in China require their suppliers to provide PV cable materials that comply with both EN 50618 and IEC 62930, while also obtaining TÜV certification. This allows cable manufacturers to develop one product that can be sold in multiple international markets.
From a technical perspective, both standards share the same goal: ensuring the long-term safety and reliability of PV cables.
Both standards require PV cable materials to withstand 1500 V DC systems. The cable conductor must be able to operate continuously at 90°C, with a maximum overload temperature of 120°C for a limited period.
In addition, both standards require excellent performance in the following areas:
UV resistance
Ozone resistance
Damp heat resistance
Thermal aging resistance
Mechanical impact resistance
Low-temperature resistance
Low-smoke, halogen-free performance
Because of these requirements, cross-linked polyolefin (XLPO) has become the most common material for both PV cable insulation and PV cable jackets.
Compared with conventional polyethylene, XLPO offers higher heat resistance, better mechanical strength, lower thermal shrinkage, and more stable long-term electrical insulation. It has become the preferred material for modern PV cable applications.
EN 50618 Focuses More on European Regulatory Requirements
Although EN 50618 is also a product standard, it was developed with European regulations in mind. Therefore, it places greater emphasis on environmental protection and long-term weather resistance.
For example, PV cable jacket materials must maintain good mechanical properties after long-term UV exposure. PV cable insulation materials must also provide excellent thermal aging resistance and electrical insulation performance.
In addition, the European market has stricter requirements for low-smoke, halogen-free (LSZH) performance. EN 50618 pays particular attention to smoke density, halogen acid gas emission, corrosive gases, and environmental performance.
This is one of the main reasons why many European solar projects require cables or cable materials to obtain TÜV certification.
IEC 62930 places greater emphasis on worldwide applications.
Besides standard electrical performance, the standard focuses on long-term operation in hot and humid environments, adaptation to different climate conditions, and long-term mechanical reliability.
Typical application environments include hot desert regions in the Middle East, tropical climates in Southeast Asia, and coastal areas with high salt exposure.
For PV cable materials, IEC 62930 pays more attention to the long-term performance retention of cross-linked polyolefin (XLPO) rather than only the initial material properties.
Although EN 50618 and IEC 62930 are published by different organizations, both standards mainly specify the technical requirements for PV cables. The actual test methods are referenced from international standards such as IEC 60228, IEC 60811, IEC 60332, IEC 60754, and IEC 61034.
Therefore, regardless of which standard is followed, PV cables must pass a series of type tests to verify the long-term reliability of the PV cable insulation, PV cable jacket, and the complete cable assembly.
Today, most products that comply with both EN 50618 and IEC 62930 follow nearly the same testing procedures.
| Test Items | EN50618 | IEC62930 | Key Assessment Criteria |
| Conductor Properties | IEC60228 | Conductor resistance and construction | |
| Voltage Withstand (Finished Product) | EN50618 | IEC62930 | Power-frequency withstand voltage and insulation integrity |
| Insulation Resistance | EN50618 | IEC62930 | Electrical insulation properties |
| Thermal Aging Test | IEC60811 | Retention of tensile strength and elongation at break | |
| Hot Set Test | IEC60811 | Cross-linking quality assessment | |
| Low-Temperature Winding Test | IEC60811 | Low-temperature flexibility | |
| Ozone Resistance Test | IEC60811-403 | Surface crack resistance | |
| UV Aging | HD605/E Method | IEC method | Long-term weather resistance |
| Water Resistance | AD8 | Long-term water resistance | |
| Single-Wire Vertical Flame Test | IEC60332-1-2 | Flame retardancy | |
| Halogen Acid Gas Emission | IEC60754 | Halogen-free characteristics | |
| Smoke Density | IEC61034 | Low-smoke characteristics | |
The comparison shows that both standards use very similar testing systems. This is one of the main reasons why many international PV cable manufacturers can meet the requirements of both EN 50618 and IEC 62930.
For products using cross-linked polyolefin (XLPO) as PV cable insulation and PV cable jackets, the material properties directly determine whether the cable can pass the required standard tests.
Both EN 50618 and IEC 62930 require materials to undergo air oven thermal aging at 150°C for 168 hours while maintaining their mechanical properties within the specified limits.
After thermal aging, the requirements are:
· Tensile strength change: ≤ ±30%
· Elongation at break change: ≤ ±30%
This test evaluates the long-term heat resistance of the material. It is also an important method for assessing the long-term reliability of both electron beam cross-linked polyolefin and silane cross-linked polyolefin.
The hot set test is one of the most important methods for evaluating the cross-linking quality of XLPO materials.
The test is carried out under the following conditions:
· Temperature: 200°C
· Load: 0.2 MPa
· Test time: 15 minutes
The material must meet the following requirements:
· Elongation under load: less than 100%
· Permanent deformation: less than 20%
These results indicate whether the cross-linking process is complete and stable.
PV cables are exposed to sunlight throughout their service life. UV radiation is one of the main causes of material aging.
Both standards require materials to undergo 720 hours of artificial UV aging using a xenon lamp or UV light source.
After the test, the material must maintain good mechanical properties without visible cracks, chalking, or other defects that could affect performance.
Requirements after UV aging:
· Tensile strength change: ≤ ±30%
· Elongation at break change: ≤ ±30%
· No visible surface cracks
Among all cable components, PV cable jackets have the highest requirement for UV resistance. Therefore, the jacket material must successfully pass this test.
Ozone levels are higher in high-altitude areas and certain industrial environments. Ozone can accelerate the aging of polymer surfaces.
According to IEC 60811-403, the test conditions are:
· Ozone concentration: 200 ± 50 pphm
· Temperature: 40 ± 2°C
· Test duration: 72 hours
After testing, the material surface must show no visible cracks to ensure long-term outdoor reliability.
To meet the safety requirements of photovoltaic systems, both EN 50618 and IEC 62930 require low-smoke, halogen-free (LSZH) material systems.
Common test methods include:
· IEC 60332-1-2 – Vertical flame propagation test for a single insulated wire or cable
· IEC 60754-1/-2 – Halogen acid gas emission and acidity test
· IEC 61034 – Smoke density test
As a result, most XLPO PV cable materials on the market today use halogen-free flame-retardant formulations to achieve excellent fire safety, environmental protection, and long-term reliability.
PV cables operate outdoors for decades. Conventional thermoplastic polyethylene is prone to thermal deformation, environmental stress cracking, and aging.
For this reason, the industry widely uses cross-linked polyolefin (XLPO) for PV cable insulation and PV cable jackets.
The three-dimensional cross-linked structure significantly improves:
· Heat resistance
· Abrasion resistance
· Environmental stress crack resistance
· Thermal oxidation resistance
· Electrical insulation performance
· Service life
Today, two mature XLPO technologies are widely used in the global PV cable industry.
Electron beam cross-linked polyolefin uses electron beam irradiation to complete the cross-linking process without chemical cross-linking by-products.
Its key advantages include:
· Uniform cross-linking
· Excellent dimensional stability
· Outstanding high-temperature resistance
Because of its stable performance and suitability for mass production, this technology is widely used in high-end PV cable materials for European and international markets.
Silane cross-linked polyolefin uses silane grafting followed by moisture curing to complete the cross-linking process.
Compared with irradiation technology, it requires lower equipment investment and is well suited for continuous production.
With continuous improvements in formulation technology, silane cross-linked polyolefin has achieved significant progress in thermal aging resistance, mechanical properties, and long-term reliability. It is now widely used in many PV cable applications.
Both electron beam cross-linked polyolefin and silane cross-linked polyolefin are proven technologies. As long as the final cable complies with EN 50618, IEC 62930, and TÜV certification requirements, it can provide safe, reliable, and long-term performance in photovoltaic systems.
For products exported to Europe and other high-end international markets, TÜV certification has become an important proof of product quality.
TÜV certification bodies perform type testing on PV cables or PV cable materials according to standards such as EN 50618 and IEC 62930. They also audit the manufacturer's quality management system and production consistency.
Obtaining TÜV certification demonstrates that the product complies with international standards and can be manufactured consistently in large quantities. Therefore, it is often a mandatory requirement for overseas photovoltaic projects.
For the European market, PV cables that comply with EN 50618 and have TÜV certification are generally recommended.
For international markets such as Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Africa, IEC 62930 is more widely recognized.
Today, the industry trend is to develop products that comply with both EN 50618 and IEC 62930. This allows manufacturers to supply a single product to multiple global markets.
To meet different customer requirements, Angreen offers several PV cable material solutions.
Designed for high-end export PV cables, these materials provide excellent thermal aging resistance, UV resistance, and long-term electrical insulation performance.
They comply with EN 50618, IEC 62930, and are available with TÜV certification.
Product Series
· 90°C waterproof XLPO material for PV cables compliant with EN 50618, IEC 62930, and 2PfG 2750
· 125°C XLPO material for PV cables compliant with EN 50618, IEC 62930, and 2PfG 1169
· 105°C XLPO material for PV cables compliant with UL 4703
These materials are ideal for continuous production processes. They offer an excellent balance between performance and manufacturing cost while meeting the requirements of major PV cable standards.
They comply with EN 50618, IEC 62930, and are available with TÜV certification.
Product Series
· 125°C XLPO material for PV cables compliant with EN 50618, IEC 62930, and 2PfG 1169
Q1: Can EN 50618 and IEC 62930 replace each other?
A1: Not completely. The two standards have very similar technical requirements, but they are intended for different markets and certification systems.
EN 50618 is commonly required for the European market, while IEC 62930 is more widely accepted in global projects. Many manufacturers design their products to comply with both standards.
Q2:Is TÜV Certification the Same as EN 50618 or IEC 62930?
A2:No.EN 50618 and IEC 62930 are product standards, while TÜV certification is an independent third-party certification service.
TÜV certification bodies test products according to the relevant standards and audit the manufacturer's production process and quality management system. The certification confirms that the product complies with the applicable standard requirements and maintains consistent manufacturing quality.
