UL India opens largest PV testing and certification facility in Bangalore

BANGALORE, INDIA: Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the global leader in product safety testing and certification, announced the opening of its testing and certification facility for Photovoltaic (PV) equipment in Bangalore.

This state-of-the-art lab is UL’s 5th global footprint and has been set up with an investment of $4 million The lab is equipped with Environmental Chambers, Sun Simulators and Instrumentation from global leaders like ESPEC, Spire Corp. and Agilent. It is capable of testing and certifying 48 families of PV modules in a year. Apart from testing for certification, this facility can also support testing for Product Development, Quality Control and Performance Assessment for PV Power Plants.

Globally the demand for PV systems has significantly increased and will continue to grow as a sustainable energy source. With the JNNSM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission) setting forth aggressive goals for deployment of solar power in India, there is a strong need in the Indian industry to have a full-fledged test facility for PV Modules and other Balance of Systems and also to support the local manufacturers aspiring to reach global markets with their products.

This lab will enable Indian companies to get necessary certification of PV Modules and other Balance of Systems equipment to various National and International Standards like UL, IEC, EN etc., thereby assisting their entry into the global markets.

RA Venkitachalam – MD and VP, UL Emerging markets, said: "There is a growing demand for PV equipment globally driven by government and industries striving for the development of sustainable energy sources. And since India too has joined the race this lab will enable the Indian PV manufacturers to get access to the state-of-the-art facility evaluating and improving the quality and performance of their products."

Jeffrey A Smidt, VP and GM, Global Energy, UL added: "UL is installing a large-scale network of PV test facilities in the key PV markets globally and India as one of the most important emerging PV markets must be part of that essential network. It is our focus to support manufacturers around the world with the market access they are looking for, without neglecting the safety and performance of the PV module."

UL is engaged in formulating PV equipment safety specifications since the 1980s. Apart from this facility in Bangalore, India, UL has four other PV testing facilities in Ise City, Japan, San Jose, California (.US), Suzhou, China and Zeppelinheim (Neu-Isenburg), Germany.

Additionally, UL is working with various governmental departments and industry bodies in India to understand the needs of the manufacturers and users of Photovoltaic equipment in an attempt to provide proactive solutions to the industry problems.

Some examples are the training courses conducted by UL University - the training and consulting arm of UL and provision for local engineering support to PV manufacturers as well as supporting professionals in extending their skills to qualified PV module installers in India. Similarly UL is working with other organization like BEE, QCI, UNDP, TERI, SESI and SEMI under various initiatives.