First Solar again successfully completes the Atlas 25+ PV module testing program

 

Atlas Material Testing Technology LLC (Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) a global provider of weathering technology and services, on July 6^th, 2016 announced that, for a second time, First Solar, Inc. (Tempe, Arizona, U.S.) has completed the rigorous “Atlas 25⁺” comprehensive PV durability testing program and received test result certification from Atlas' partner SGS, a world-leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.

Testing was conducted on First Solar's original Series 4 thin film photovoltaic (PV) module, which utilizes the core technology used in all of the company's product offerings.

The Atlas 25⁺ protocol is a proprietary, multi-dimensional durability test program designed to subject photovoltaic modules to the environmental degradation stresses that can be expected over long-term service.

It provides manufacturers with the data they need to demonstrate long-term durability and to support warranty and performance claims, while reducing the costs associated with aftermarket product failure.

Solar PV panels exposed to a series of stresses

The Atlas 25⁺ program exposes solar panels to a series of stresses, including UV-A/UV-B exposure, salt spray corrosion, condensing humidity, solar/thermal humidity cycle, solar/thermal humidity freeze cycle, Arizona and Florida solar tracking – including peak summer – and initial, final and multiple interval measurements. In order to receive SGS certification, modules are required to have less than 8% degradation over the testing period.

“As part of the Atlas 25⁺ independent testing program, solar panels are exposed to harsh weather conditions similar to those faced during their lifetime,” said Richard Slomko, Director of Atlas' Weathering Services Group.

“This is a tremendous achievement for First Solar to complete our Atlas 25⁺program again with impressive results. We are extremely pleased that the world's leading thin-film PV manufacturer continues to utilize our unique PV durability testing program to confirm module suitability for long-term operation in the world's harshest climates.”

“Only the strong survive in the highly competitive PV technology environment,” said Lou Trippel, First Solar's Senior Director of Product Management.

“Only a handful of PV manufacturers – and no other thin film manufacturer – have been certified. We are taking the world-class reliability documented here and building it into successive products. We believe product evolution depends on fundamental reliability.” 

source: http://www.solarserver.com