Underwriters
Laboratories (UL), a product safety testing and certification company,
has opened North America’s largest commercially focused PV testing and
certification facility in San Jose, California. The 20,000 square-foot
facility, dubbed the Photovoltaic Technology Center of Excellence, will
provide both indoor and outdoor certification and testing services via
its 14 test chambers and two solar simulators for PV modules and
panels. It will also provide full pre-certification services including
training and R&D.
“The opening of UL’s PV testing facility is great news for the solar industry,” said Tom Kimbis, Acting Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Program. “Increased UL testing capacity should translate into shorter cycle-times for listing solar modules; a critical component in getting solar end-products to market faster.”
By Síle Mc Mahon