The worldwide leading experts for safety and quality testing within the solar industry will shed light on their most recent development, PV+Test, with which investors can obtain answers to the question of the "good" solar module that will continue to perform even after 20 years.
The complex testing system, consisting of 25 individual tests, which was developed by Solarpraxis AG and an industry consultant over a period of more than two years, is open to all manufacturers and will be constantly extended with new modules.
Additional topics that TÜV Rheinland will deal with at Intersolar Europe 2011 include fire protection and fire resistance of modules, a new extended test for simulation of long-term operating conditions for solar modules, further accreditations in the European and U.S. market, as well as consultation and qualification programmes for investors, insurance providers, banks and project workers concerning the bankability of large-scale photovoltaic installations.
In addition, the new "Power controlled" test mark will be presented by TÜV Rheinland in Munich, in which monitoring is carried out by the experts of the independent test provider to determine whether the stated module performance is adhered to by manufacturers in practice.
Also new in TÜV Rheinland's test programme are certifications for flexible composite module films as well as extended test equipment for testing exposure of the modules to environments containing salt and ammonia, which are present in farming operations, for example.
TÜV Rheinland has made considerable investments in this area, as demand continues to grow. TÜV Rheinland first started laboratory-scale technical testing of solar components back in 1995. TÜV Rheinlands network of experts for the solar industry comprises nearly 200 specialists in six laboratories worldwide. Nearly 80 percent of solar module manufacturers have their products tested at TÜV Rhein¬land in order to obtain national or international certification.
To this end, TÜV Rheinland operates test laboratories in Bangalore (India), Cologne (Germany), Shanghai (China), Taichung (Taiwan), Tempe, Arizona (USA) and in Yokohama (Japan).
Worldwide, around 500 manufacturers of photovoltaic modules are customers of the testing service provider. Not only are the specialists involved in testing modules and components – they are also developing new test methods, collaborating on R&D projects for the use of solar energy, and assisting customers worldwide with the construction of solar power plants.
TÜV Rheinland at the Intersolar Europe 2011: 8 – 10 June 2011, Neue Messe München, Hall A2 Stand 119.
