News

29 May 2009

 

SolFocus first to receive IEC Certification on CPV modules

SolFocus Inc of Mountain View, CA, USA says that its SF-1000P module is the first concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) product to meet the performance, qualification and safety standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62108 standard.

“The real-world testing conducted for the IEC CPV standard proves that SolFocus systems meet both the performance, qualification, and reliability criteria, critical in bringing CPV to a truly global scale,” says president & CEO Mark Crowley. “We have already proven that CPV can yield nearly twice the efficiency of traditional PV systems, but meeting the IEC’s rigorous CPV requirements proves that SolFocus systems can perform consistently across a variety of climates and environments,” he adds. “This validation sends a message to developers, investors and customers that CPV is on track to global commercialization.”

The IEC 62108 standard for photovoltaic concentrators and receivers was created to verify the safety, photoelectric performance and environmental reliability of panels designed with CPV technology and ready to be introduced to the emerging market. The standard was designed to be universal, taking into account different environments and manufacturing technologies across geographies.

SolFocus says that its system was shown to meet all requirements of the IEC 62108 standard, which specifies the design qualification and type approval of concentrator photovoltaic modules and assemblies suitable for long-term operation in general open-air climates. The system’s electrical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics were shown to be safe, high-performing and capable of withstanding prolonged exposure in varied climates, the firm adds.

In addition, SolFocus has also just had its SF-1100 modules approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC) to be placed on the Eligible California Solar Initiative (CSI) Solar Electric Equipment List, which assures customers that equipment has been thoroughly tested for safety and meets the requirements of the CEC. SolFocus remains the only CPV system maker to achieve CEC listing, which is required for customers in California to receive rebates for energy produced by solar systems.

SolFocus’ CPV design uses a system of reflective optics (curved mirrors) to concentrate sunlight 650 times onto highly efficient gallium arsenide-based solar cells on germanium substrates that have high solar energy conversion efficiency (approaching 40%, more than twice that of traditional silicon solar cells). Like its smaller SF-1000S system (approved by the CEC last September), the firm's second product (the SF-1100S, launched last November) uses about a thousandth of the active solar cell material compared to traditional silicon-based PV panels, but boosts panel conversion efficiency from 18% to more than 25%. It is also built primarily with readily available and cost-effective materials such as aluminum and glass, delivering zero emissions energy, with the lowest carbon footprint in manufacturing being over 97% recyclable, claims the firm.

See related items:

SolFocus opens expanded Mesa Glassworks factory

SolFocus and Samaras expand Greek CPV project from 1.6MW to 10MW

SolFocus raises $47.5m to commercialize CPVs

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Visit: www.solfocus.com