Published June 17, 2010

A new solar module testing and certification laboratory planned for New Mexico would become the third of its kind to open in the Western United States in the past two years.

The establishment of new testing centers reflects the growth of the solar photovoltaic industry, both in this country and worldwide. The materials used in mass-manufactured solar panels typically come from many sources throughout the world, and the finished products are often marketed globally.

How solar modules will perform in various weather conditions and over time has been one of the most frequently asked questions at meetings of homeowners interested in learning about or buying solar PV equipment.

The newest testing lab in the United States, called CFV Solar Test Laboratory, is to be set up in Albuquerque, N.M. It is expected to start operations in late 2010 and will test products for certification to North American and international PV standards, according to a news release.

The laboratory is jointly owned by CSA Group, a not-for-profit association based in the province of Ontario, where the solar marketplace is booming; the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, the Fraunhofer USA Center for Sustainable Energy Systems CSE, and the VDE Testing and Certification Institute.

"The decision to place this new solar testing facility in New Mexico puts us in the epicenter of the PV installation market in the U.S." said Randall W. Luecke, president of CSA International, in the news release. "The conditions, from a business and testing perspective, made choosing Albuquerque a strategically smart move that will allow for market growth and excellent outdoor test conditions."

In addition to the laboratory, Fraunhofer CSE and Fraunhofer ISE also plan to operate a research and development facility at the Mesa del Sol development in Albuquerque.

The new operations are expected to result in 30 to 40 new jobs in the solar PV industry, the announcement said.

"As we build a thriving solar industry in New Mexico, it is important that we attract all aspects of the industry," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson in a prepared statement. "That is why I am pleased to announce the establishment of the CFV Solar Test Laboratory and the Fraunhofer R&D facility."

Nolan Browne, managing director of Fraunhofer CSE, said, "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. I also want to recognize the invaluable assistance we received from U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Albuquerque Economic Development, whose interest and support for the project have helped us make this decision.”

Underwriters Laboratories opened a solar module testing and certification laboratory in San Jose, Calif., in 2008. A company called TÜV Rheinland later opened a solar panel testing and certification center in Tempe, Ariz., in collaboration with Arizona State University. A smaller test center had been located at the university before the new site opened.

All three of the new test centers are near factories or offices of leading companies involved in manufacturing solar modules.

At homeowner meetings, people with questions about the reliability of solar panels have been told by representatives of the California Solar Initiative that the equipment is generally certified for, among other things, resistance to hail impact, high winds, rain, snow loads and high temperatures.