May 28 2010
Global Solar Energy, a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) solar material, announced today that Shurjo Energy Private Limited, a subsidiary of PAE Limited, was awarded the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) certification for its complete line of solar modules that use Global Solar CIGS technology. Of the two, a 158 watt module is one of the most powerful CIGS panels on the market.
Issued by EuroTest Laboratori S.r.l (TUV Intercert), IEC certifications are an industry standard when it comes to validating PV products and technology. Shurjo Energy earned the IEC 61646 and IEC 61730 certification, which confirm that all of its modules built with Global Solar technology adhere to the commission's stringent requirements for functional, mechanical and safety capabilities for long-term operation and open air environments. This certification is also a requirement for solar modules used in solar power plants in most markets worldwide.
“Shurjo Energy has been solely focused on developing and producing a range of CIGS modules for the past three years, and this focus has allowed us to develop an expertise on the technology,” said Spencer Jansen, CTO of Shurjo Energy. “We have carried out numerous in-house and external tests, so that we fully understood the interaction between the materials that make up our modules, before subjecting them to the certification process. The knowledge we gained from our testing proved to us that Global Solar was the clear technology leader in CIGS and allowed us to pass the IEC test requirements on the first attempt.”
Shurjo’s CIGS-based solar modules have been subjected to the full range of IEC testing, including extra testing for the modules without a frame. This means that the Shurjo CIGS modules can be integrated into existing roofing systems and structures, and maintain the same level of performance and efficiency. Both Shurjo and Global Solar Energy are dedicated to developing and providing products and services for the emerging building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market.
“This recent IEC certification is a huge win not only for Shurjo Energy but also for the CIGS industry, as Global Solar continues to advance the technology’s contributions to the solar market,” said Dr. Jeff Britt, CEO of Global Solar Energy. “We consider this certification a testament to the high caliber of our CIGS material—which we are producing with an average efficiency of 11 percent on our production lines in Tucson and Berlin, Germany. As with all our partners, we look forward to working with Shurjo, providing our technology on a continuous basis and adding to their success.”
The IEC sets international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. IEC 61646 "Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval" and “IEC 61730 – safety test” are testing standards used worldwide by the solar industry in order to verify that new solar modules, encapsulation materials and manufacturers of solar modules to meet a minimum set of functional and mechanical requirements to prove confidence for long-term (25+ years) module performance and integrity.
In order to meet local government supported programs, Shurjo Energy modules have also been certified by the Electronics Regional Test Laboratory (East), India and the KS 1674 (East African standard) from Intertek.