Three months after opening, TÜV Rheinland’s solar test centre in Cologne is operating at full capacity

Three months after opening, TÜV Rheinland’s new solar test centre in Cologne has now reached full capacity. For solar module manufacturers, this means that test times have been roughly halved compared to the previous solar laboratory. The processing times for a full type approval and certification of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules in accordance with IEC 61215, for example, takes approximately three months. This has been made possible by expanding the capacities and through making considerable additions to the technical testing equipment compared to the previous testing laboratory, which was put into operation as early as 1995. In addition, according to Wilhelm Vaaßen, Manager of the solar test centre in Cologne, optimised processes have also played their part: `In doing this, we have achieved one of our most important objectives: to drastically tighten the time schedules and make the process more efficient whilst maintaining the quality and reliability of the tests.`

The new laboratory in Cologne, which covers 1,800 square metres, is three times as large as the previous laboratory, which was put into operation in 1995. The facilities of the new laboratory, which employs 50 members of staff, include six climate chambers, five sun simulators and two mechanical load testing devices. In addition, experts have access to two outdoor test facilities, one in Cologne and one in Italy. These test facilities each comprise six test stations for photovoltaic (PV) module characteristic measurements and performance test stations for thermal collectors, as well as 20 test stations for fitness-for-purpose tests and nine test stations for thermal system tests and four solar trackers. The laboratory`s portfolio of services is therefore being constantly extended: since October 2009, TÜV Rheinland has also been accredited for testing concentrating photovoltaic systems (CPV systems).

Around 70% of all solar module manufacturers worldwide have their products tested at TÜV Rheinland to obtain international market licences. TÜV Rheinland operates five laboratories for the testing of solar modules and systems, in which nearly 150 experts are employed. TÜV Rheinland test centres are currently located in Cologne, Shanghai and two in Yokohama. In addition, there is the laboratory of TÜV Rheinland PTL – a joint venture with Arizona State University – in Tempe, Arizona. Furthermore, an additional Solar Energy Assessment Centre is under construction in Taichung, Taiwan.

An overview of photovoltaic modules approved and certified by TÜV Rheinland can be found on the internet at http://www.tuv-pv-cert.de.