The Torment of a Photovoltaic (PV) Module

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The SGS Solar Test House will either make or break solar modules. In this new solar testing lab solar modules are submitted to fundamental testing as part of the module qualification process.

A building given the name “the bunker” by the inhabitants is located near Dresden, Germany, and was designed by a German artist now grants state-of-the art climatic chambers and other testing equipment which enables SGS engineers to test newly designed PV modules in severe environmental conditions. These are the requirements of IEC standards for crystalline and thin-film modules and are meant to generate year long exposure of PV modules to the elements.

Modules that pass testing receive a globally recognized SGS or SGS-TÜV quality mark, subsequently this makes the faster access to end-user markets possible. If requested by manufacturers, in addition to testing to IEC standards, the SGS Solar Test House can also carry out testing to other standards and assess specific functional parameters.

Supporting innovators
The region in which the Solar Test House is located has earned its Silicon Saxony nickname because it is home to some of the strongest European players in the solar and semiconductor industries. Through its services offering SGS Solar Test House can cover the entire quality control and analysis needs of these industry innovators, from raw materials to solar cells and modules.

SGS can perform failure analyses (http://www.ee.sgs.com/ee_index/microelectronics_ee... ) (e.g. for silicon wafers), down to microscopic levels thanks to the nearby SGS Institut Fresenius, a microelectronics expertise centre, that employs high precision equipment to perform atom-level surface analyses, element depth profiles and identification of impurities and contact problems.

The long term goal of the Solar Test House is to extend its certification capacities beyond Europe, to other solar technology hot spots around the world.

For more information visit www.sgs.com/solar or download the PV brochure (http://www.ee.sgs.com/sgs-solar-remedial-low-en-09...) (PDF 620KB).

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With more than 59,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.