Locations
Six Regional Test Center Sites Representing a Range of Climates
Albuquerque, NM
The New Mexico RTC is co-located with Sandia’s Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Laboratory, which is a multiple-user facility that conducts research on emerging PV technologies and supports the detailed characterization and performance analysis of modules and components.
Special features include both outdoor and indoor characterization capabilities:
- Two-axis tracker for measuring a module’s performance under controllable conditions
- High-fidelity meteorological instrumentation including spectral radiometer and sky camera
- Long-pulse, Class AAA solar simulator to measure the electrical performance of modules before and after field deployment
- Imaging chamber for infrared, electroluminescence and dark current and voltage measurements for cell and module diagnostics
- High-security site with badging required
Golden, CO
The Colorado RTC is co-located with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Outdoor Test Facility.
Special features include:
- High-Bay Accelerated Testing Laboratory that allows for accelerated weathering of PV modules under controlled conditions
- Failure Analysis Laboratory that enables current testing and diagnostic imaging to identify failure mechanisms
- Long-pulse, Class AAA solar simulator to measure the electrical performance of modules before and after field deployment
- Optical Mechanical Characterization Laboratory that supports the optical and mechanical characterization of PV components including their ability to transmit and reflect light and their strength and integrity.
- High-security site with badging required
Calumet, MI
Site Partner: Michigan Technological University
- The Michigan Regional Test Center is in Calumet, Michigan adjacent to the Advanced Power Systems Center at Michigan Technological University
- The site is distinguished by its climate. The northern Michigan location provides ideal field conditions for evaluating solar technologies in winter: snow and low temperatures here are both predictable and persistent with the average annual snowfall of 202 inches and up to as much 300 inches or more
- Other features include fixed-tilt racking, single axis trackers, a mock roof and a set of module-scale load sensors that can measure snow, wind and cold loading on modules of any size
Lafayette, Louisiana
Site Partner: The University of Louisiana, Lafayette
Special features include:
- Long-pulse, Class AAA solar simulator to measure the electrical performance of modules before and after field deployment
- Imaging chamber for infrared, electroluminescence and dark current and voltage (dark-IV) measurements for cell and module diagnostics
- Fixed tilt, tracker systems and mock roof structure for product studies
Henderson, NV
Site Partners: The University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada Water Authority
Special features include:
- Isotype cell sensor for solar spectral measurements
- Technologies represented include: concentrated photovoltaics, mono-crystalline silicon (both n- and p-type), bifacial- and shingled-cell modules, anti-reflective coatings, and sensor adhesives, with more technological diversity on the way
- Research site for concentrated photovoltaic systems
- Installation labor, and other technical assistance, provided by SNWA
- Onsite office for student education and research
- High-security site with badging required
Cocoa, FL
Site Partner: University of Central Florida
Features and associated capabilities include:
- A long-pulse Class AAA solar simulator for measuring the electrical performance of modules
- Electroluminescence, infrared, acoustic and optical imaging
- Materials characterization that includes ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy, secondary-ion mass spectroscopy, Auger and photo luminescence