SBM Solar says it has become the first company to earn UL certification on its nonglass, rigid, crystalline-silicon photovoltaic modules. The panels are encapsulated with a non-EVA-based thermoplastic material developed by Dow Chemical.
“Our 140W solar panel endured four years of rigorous UL1703 testing,” says Osbert Cheung, SBM’s founder and president. “UL approval, as well as our IEC61215 certification for hail impact resistance, demonstrates SBM Solar’s strong commitment to quality and safety.”
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Cheung explained that the Dow-developed thermoplastics “allow us to manufacture panels three times faster than traditional glass modules while maintaining highly consistent quality.”
The company says that its durable, customizable nonglass PV modules are 40% lighter and thus easier and cheaper to ship and handle (and have the highest power vs. weight ratio in the world), also making them suitable for applications with weight restrictions.
SBM, which has R&D and manufacturing facilities in Concord, NC, cites Motech and Suniva as two of its cell suppliers.
