SolFocus CPV Modules First to Receive IEC Certification
Source/Type: News - Staff reports

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

June 1, 2009... SolFocus, a developer of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems based in Mountain View, California USA, announced that its SF-1000P module is the first CPV product to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62108 standard. The IEC is a leading standards organization that prepares and publishes its rigorous performance, quality, and safety standards for electrical and electronic technologies. The IEC reportedly created the 62108 standard for photovoltaic concentrators and receivers to verify the safety, photoelectric performance and environmental reliability of panels designed with CPV technology and ensure that they were ready to be introduced to the emerging marketplace. The standard was designed to be universal, taking into account different environments and manufacturing technologies across geographies.

"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," said Mark Crowley, president and chief executive officer of SolFocus. "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. This validation sends a message to developers, investors and customers that CPV is on track to global commercialization." SolFocus News Release. SolFocus' SF1100 modules previously were the first modules approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC) to be placed on the Eligible California Solar Initiative (CSI) Solar Electric Equipment List. (Ref: coverage).

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