ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Testing techniques from Sandia National Laboratories are helping accelerate the growth of the nation’s photovoltaic solar power industry through a partnership with TUV Rheinland PTL, LLC, a private testing and certification company in Tucson, Arizona.
“The unique, multiplatform test capabilities developed at Sandia Labs are providing a tremendous value to our customers,” said Govindasamy Tamizhmani of TUV-PTL.
A variety of private companies have turned to the Photovoltaics and Grid Integration Department at Sandia for testing and analysis, based on the department’s years of leadership in PV research. But as the U.S. PV industry continues its exponential growth, Sandia can’t keep up with those demands.
“Transferring our technology to a commercial test house allows for a much faster response time for getting PV into the field,” said Sandia researcher Jennifer Granata. “This partnership enables us to continue to support requests while maintaining our primary focus on research and new technologies.”
In 2009, Sandia sought competitive bids for a third party to certify systems using Sandia technology. After reviewing a number of submissions, Sandia awarded the bid to TUV-PTL in May 2009. Sandia spent more than a year verifying the test and analysis methods of TUV-PTL through two rounds of exacting tests and awarded the contract.
Traditional tests characterize PV modules at one temperature, one irradiance and one spectrum, but Sandia’s technology allows users to test PV modules with a highly accurate, dual-axis tracker and gather data on multiple weather conditions, temperatures, irradiances, air mass values and angles of incidence. The data are then used to build models that predict how a module might behave in any location.
“As the industry and test standards slowly and steadily move away from single-condition to multi-condition testing, the future for this new service looks great and allows us to provide a unique capability to our customers,” said Tamizhmani.
Since being awarded the subcontract, TUV-PTL has successfully used Sandia’s test methods for several clients to understand various real operating conditions in the field.
The technology transfer was conducted under the Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Program PV Test Technology Transfer effort.
Based in Tempe, Ariz., TÜV Rheinland PTL, LLC is a leading provider of safety and performance testing, and market certification serving every sector of the photovoltaic and solar thermal marketplace, from the supply chain through installation. TÜV Rheinland PTL is a member of the TÜV Rheinland Group, which has the largest network of solar energy laboratories worldwide, with six major laboratories on three continents. The lab was formed as a unique partnership between Arizona State University, an institution with more than 50 years of research on solar energy and extensive solar testing know-how, and TÜV Rheinland, a $1.5 billion global provider of independent testing, assessment, and certification services. For more information, visit www.tuvptl.com.