CFV Solar Test Laboratory, jointly owned by the CSA Group, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, the Fraunhofer USA Center for Sustainable Energy Systems CSE and the VDE Testing and Certification Institute, has revealed that Albuquerque, New Mexico will house their new solar module testing laboratory.
“The top officials of the State of New Mexico, Bernalillo County, and the City of Albuquerque are very committed to developing the solar industry in their region, and have given us the necessary support to make this project possible” says Nolan Browne, managing director of Fraunhofer CSE. “I also want to recognize the invaluable assistance we received from U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman and Albuquerque Economic Development, whose interest and support for the project have helped us make this decision.”
Located within the Mesa del Sol development of Albuquerque, the new laboratory will start operations later this year and test products for certification to North American and International PV-Test Standards.
Additionally, Fraunhofer CSE and Fraunhofer ISE will operate a R&D facility at Mesa del Sol, focussing on long-term reliability, decreased cost and increased performance of PV modules.