CECET’s new PV Certification Testing Lab is owned by the worldwide testing company Intertek and provides both indoor and outdoor testing of solar panels. The facility uses sophisticated technology in order to test characteristics such as generating capacity, performance over time, snow impact, extreme temperature and adverse weather conditions and various other performance-related aspects.
So far, the nearest solar panel testing laboratories have been located in the southeastern United States and in California. The location of a testing site in New York will therefore allow scientists to test equipment performance during the extreme winter and summer conditions experience by the Northeast, as well as offering ease of access and convenience to solar panel manufacturers in the region.
The lab equipment will also perform electroluminescence testing, which can be used to spot stress cracks and other minute damage to panel composite materials. Specialized ovens will test accelerated aging in heat and cold in order to simulate years of aging in only a few weeks. Overall, the lab will be able to provide more than 10 types of test to meet US and international standards.
“Through Governor Cuomo's NY-Sun initiative, the State has seen a significant increase in the installation of solar power” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “By investing in CECET's new solar panel testing laboratory, the State continues to demonstrate its commitment to the solar industry and its advancement of new technologies. Being the only high tech solar panel facility in the Northeast, it will bring economic activity to the State, and help expand New York’s clean energy economy.”
Governor Cuomo launched the NY-Sun initiative in April 2012 to accelerate solar power development in New York State. Subsequently the combined effects of NYSERDA, New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) in 2012 led to the successful installation of more than 58 megawatts (MW) of PV in the State, nearly doubling the amount of customer-sited PV installed in 2011.
“For companies working on mature and next-generation solar technologies, this lab will provide a state-of-the-art facility at which to validate the success of their research and development” said Rick Lewandowski, CECET’s Executive Director. “Our test facilities demonstrate that New York is ready for the expansion of both the renewable marketplace and its industry and is making the necessary investment to lead in this area. We are thankful to NYSERDA for its vision and funding, which helped make this joint effort possible.”
The testing facility is located only a few hours from the U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC) in Albany and has been designed to encourage increased research and development of solar power technology in New York and the Northeast. Currently the lab supports four employees but growth in numbers of jobs is expected. Dr Pradeep Haldar, CNSE Vice President for Clean Energy Programs and Chief Operating and Technology Officer of the U.S. PVMC said that the facility further builds on the NY-Sun initiative to position New York as a hub for innovative clean energy research and manufacturing.
For additional information:
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
