6 July 2016

First Solar completes Atlas 25+ testing program for second time, on Series 4 PV module

Atlas Material Testing Technology LLC of Mt. Prospect, IL, USA, which provides weathering technology and services, says that, for a second time, cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic module maker First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA has completed the rigorous Atlas 25+ Comprehensive PV Durability Testing program and received test result certification from Atlas' inspection, verification, testing and certification partner SGS.

Testing was conducted on First Solar's original Series 4 thin-film photovoltaic module, which utilizes the core technology used in all of the firm'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. The firm says that it provides manufacturers with the data needed to demonstrate long-term durability and to support warranty and performance claims, while reducing the costs associated with aftermarket product failure.

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," notes Richard Slomko, director of Atlas' Weathering Services Group.

"Only a handful of PV manufacturers – and no other thin-film manufacturer – have been certified," says Lou Trippel, First Solar's senior director of Product Management. "We are taking the world-class reliability documented here and building it into successive products," he adds. "We believe product evolution depends on fundamental reliability."

See related items:

First Solar completes Atlas 25+ testing program

Tags: First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe

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Visit: www.atlas-mts.com