Overview
Two of the five regional test centers (New Mexico and Colorado) are under the direct oversight of Sandia National Laboratories and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; the remaining three (Florida, Nevada and Vermont) are managed as a partnership between Sandia and the local host institution. Each site is climatically distinct and can accommodate the installation of different technologies and sizes.
- produce a set of standardized protocols for PV system validation, applicable to different climates and settings; and
- support the goals of the DOE SunShot Initiative by helping accelerate technological evolution in the energy sector and increasing PV deployment
Too often, new technologies, including PV systems, lack rigorous performance data and have trouble drawing the investment dollars needed for commercialization. Unable to cross this so-called technological valley of death, many never make it to market. To help solve this critical problem, the RTCs will provide energy-technology companies with the rigorous and highly calibrated testing and evaluation studies they need to win investor confidence and bring their products to market.Addressing a Key Challenge
