CFV Solar Test Laboratory located in Albuquerque, NM, is a state-of-the-art photovoltaic (PV) test center, accredited to ISO17025. CFV is jointly owned by the world-renowned standards and research organizations: CSA Group, VDE Institute, Fraunhofer ISE, and Fraunhofer CSE.

CFV's mission is to provide superior testing services to the solar industry. We are experts in all PV technologies, from traditional cSi flat plate, to advanced thin film, concentrating (CPV), and building integrated (BIPV) modules. Together with our partners CSA and VDE we can provide global product certifications with highly respected quality marks. By using combined test programs based on UL and IEC standards we can save customers time and money.

CFV also provides highly specialized non-certification test services. With our unique test equipment and outstanding solar irradiance conditions we can fulfill (almost) any test desire. We work closely with our customer to develop tailored test programs and provide meaningful data analysis of the test results.

A distinct advantage of working with CFV is the co-located research team from the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE). This unique partnership provides access to cutting edge research into PV technologies and system test capabilities on Fraunhofer's 5 acre test site in Albuquerque.

Our test services include:

• PV Certification testing
• • PV modules to IEC61215 (Cr-Si), 61646 (TF), 61730 (Safety) and ANSI/UL1703
  • CPV modules to IEC62108, 62688 (safety) and ANSI/UL8703
  • Performance testing to IEC61853
  • Testing for California CEC listing
  • Mounting systems and clamps to UL2703
• Non-certification testing of PV modules
• • Pre-certification testing
  • Quality control / warranty testing
  • • Verification of name plate performance
    • Electroluminescence and infrared (IR) imaging
  • Reliability and bankability testing
  • • Accelerated degradation tests in climate chambers
    • Advanced load and hail tests to verify mechanical strength and durability
    • Light induced degradation (LID) studies
    • Potential induced degradation (PID) studies
    • Fraunhofer PVDI (Photovoltaic module durability initiative) test program
  • Outdoor performance comparisons on fixed racks, 1- and 2-axis tracking systems
  • Input data for performance models (e.g. PVsyst, Sandia performance model)
• Custom tests tailored to individual requirements

State of the art test equipment at CFV Solar

Learn more about CFV Solar Test laboratory:

• CFV General Information
• CFV Performance Testing
• CFV Services and Capabilities