Evergreen Solar, Inc.,(NYSE: ELSR) a photovoltaic (PV) products manufacture, announced its modules would now be tested to a more stringent international standard. “Our exclusive String Ribbon(TM) technology has earned Evergreen a reputation for producing high-quality solar products,” said Terry Bailey, Evergreen Solar senior vice president, marketing and sales. “We believe we have always had high standards within the industry. By instituting this even more stringent internal test for power output performance, we’re holding ourselves and our products to one of the highest standards in the industry.”
Under the new standard, Evergreen modules are being tested to produce a minimum of 98% or more of their rated power output. Currently, there is no recognized third-party standard for minimum power output. Minimum power ratings used by PV manufacturers range as low as 90%.
“We believe Evergreen’s -2% tolerance standard ranks among the industry’s best worldwide,” Bailey said. The new standard is expected to be a key benefit to consumers, especially in countries such as Germany, where financial incentives are based on a PV system’s actual output rather than its rated output.
Evergreen’s patented and highly efficient String Ribbon(TM) manufacturing process produces nearly one-and-a-half times as much power per pound of refined silicon as conventional methods. The Company is currently developing advanced technology to produce substantially thinner silicon wafers that could generate three times as much power.
Loading...