Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a world leader in safety testing and
certification, announced today that photovoltaic modules produced by an Applied
Materials SunFab Thin Film Line™ are the first to qualify for UL’s Master
Certification Program for the solar industry. The program, introduced in 2009,
is an enhanced service offering with streamlined testing and certification
procedures intended to help photovoltaic (PV) module and production equipment
manufacturers get products to market faster.
With this qualification under the Master Certification program, Applied
Materials’ customers who produce modules on a SunFab™ production line are
candidates for UL’s Fast Track Certification Program. The Fast Track program
allows manufacturers to greatly reduce the time and cost to certify the modules
produced on their SunFab lines. The SunFab Thin Film Line, which produces one of
the world’s largest and most powerful solar panels available today at 5.7 square
meters, is an automated, glass-in/panel-out manufacturing line for amorphous and
microcrystalline silicon-based thin film PV manufacturing.
“The Master and Fast Track Programs and UL certification are critical to
SunFab line customers working in the U.S. solar market, which is expected to
grow from generating 400 megawatts to nearly two gigawatts of solar energy
during the next two years,” said Kirk Hasserjian, corporate vice president,
Applied Materials. “Having an established, independent third party like UL
validate the safety and performance of the SunFab line-produced modules helps
our customers more rapidly take advantage of key market development
opportunities. Two of our customers have already successfully certified their
SunFab production line modules using the UL Fast Track Certification Program.”
Customized test fixtures and equipment were designed to handle the
large-sized SunFab modules. This was essential in order for the products to
undergo the rigorous test sequence at UL’s PV Technology Center of Excellence in
San Jose, Calif. that validates the products’ safety and performance is in
compliance with published UL and IEC standards. Due to the large size of some of
the modules, UL’s PV Technology Center of Excellence is one of the few testing
labs in the country that operates environmental testing chambers equipped to
handle this technology. The laboratory also remains North America’s most
comprehensive commercial solar testing facility of its kind since its 2009
expansion.
“UL is committed to supporting the PV industry and continues to expand our
solar testing capabilities to help customers meet their individual needs – large
and small – as well as the demands of the growing marketplace,” said Jeff Smidt,
general manager and vice president of UL’s Global Energy business unit. “Our
recent work with Applied Materials is a perfect example of how the Master and
Fast Track Certification Programs reduce project turnaround times and increase
speed to market, which is vital for our customers.”
UL’s photovoltaic programs are able to test to both national and
international standards, including UL1703, UL 61730, IEC 61215, IEC 61646 and
IEC 61730. Services are available globally for markets in North America, Europe
and Asia at UL’s PV Technology Centers in San Jose, Calif., Zeppelinheim,
Germany, Suzhou, China and later this year in Japan and India.
Source: http://www.appliedmaterials.com/