The EDF Energies Nouvelles and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE celebrate their long-standing cooperation. Over the past ten years, EDF Energies Nouvelles has counted on Fraunhofer ISEs expertise in precise calibration services and quality assurance for its solar photovoltaic (PV) modules installed in solar photovoltaic power plants worldwide.
Partnership for Optimal Power Plant Yield and Accelerated Innovation
Against the background of the strongly growing international PV market, the two partners have set their sights on jointly developing a standard procedure for the quality testing of solar photovoltaic systems for establishment in the new market. The approach takes a representative sample of the PV modules which are selected by a proven sampling method. The test procedure itself addresses the special climatic and local requirements at the different locations.
The cooperation includes the entire value chain of solar power production of EDF Energies Nouvelles: from quality testing the modules in advance up through to yield measurements of the installed PV power plants on a regular basis. Module testing, carried out to guarantee an optimal energy yield, is performed on both the silicon PV modules of EDF ENs subsidiary Photowatt as well as products from third party companies.
As evidenced in their numerous joint projects, research and development plays an important part in the partnership between EDF Energies Nouvelles and Fraunhofer ISE. The European project Solartrain, a result of the cooperation, was distinguished for its competitiveness a short time ago.
Close Alliance between Two Big Players in the Solar Sector
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE carries out applied research and development for innovative solutions in solar energy. It ranks among the top of its kind. The unique expertise at Fraunhofer ISE guarantees that yield measurements of PV power plants are performed with the highest reliability and precision. Due to its flexibility and fast processing times, Fraunhofer ISE can carry out large jobs in parallel, offering high-quality services at a top international level.
An integrated company, EDF Energies Nouvelles uses Fraunhofer ISEs expertise to guarantee the complete quality assurance from the module manufacturing up to the operation of its power plants located in eight countries. The Group holds a PV power production capacity of over 1.4 GW consisting of its own power plants and those of its subsidiaries, who specialize in the operation and maintenance of renewable energy power plants, (EDF EN Services in Europe and EDF Renewable Services in North America).
By bundling our competence with that of Fraunhofer ISE, EDF Energies Nouvelles enables the quality assurance of its power plants. At the same time we also open up new perspectives for improving solar energy performance, explains Pierre-Guy Thérond, Head of New Technologies at EDF Energies Nouvelles.
As a recognized player in the international PV industry, we have been pursuing our goal of quality assurance in this solid and long-standing partnership for ten years. Our fruitful cooperation is based on the synergy of our expertise and on our constant efforts to innovate. These are the best prerequisites for our joint development of a sophisticated quality assurance standard. We anticipate that this milestone will lead to a marked improvement in the international standards, adds Prof. Dr. Eicke R. Weber, Institute Director of Fraunhofer ISE.
