Independent testing for the downstream solar industry

As the industry’s premier ISO 17025 accredited PV testing and calibration lab, we go beyond certification standards to assess the bankability of PV and storage equipment. From the lab to the field and back, our data and services support risk mitigation and strong performance in solar power plants.

Our Testing Services

Independent testing for the downstream solar industry

As the industry’s premier ISO 17025 accredited PV testing and calibration lab, we go beyond certification standards to assess the bankability of PV and storage equipment. From the lab to the field and back, our data and services support risk mitigation and strong performance in solar power plants.

PVEL-Solar-PV-Module-Backsheet-Reliability-Testing-UV-Light
PVEL-Reference-Solar-Cell-PV-Testing

PVEL innovated bankability testing for
solar project developers and investors

Our team developed the first extended reliability and performance tests to evaluate PV modules for the downstream market.

This pioneering work became the foundation of our groundbreaking Product Qualification Programs (PQP) for modules, inverters and storage. Today we conduct our flagship PQP testing at three state-of-the-art PVEL laboratories in California and with our partner labs around the world.

PVEL’s technical downstream services complement our PQPs. From project-level lab testing to field EL imaging and data services, we support the design, construction and operation of high-performing solar projects.

Learn about our PQPsExplore our Downstream Services

PVEL innovated bankability testing for solar project developers and investors

Our team developed the first extended reliability and performance tests to evaluate PV modules for the downstream market.

This pioneering work became the foundation of our groundbreaking Product Qualification Programs (PQP) for modules, inverters and storage. Today we conduct our flagship PQP testing at three state-of-the-art PVEL laboratories in California and with our partner labs around the world.

PVEL-Reference-Solar-Cell-PV-Testing

PVEL’s technical downstream services complement our PQPs. From project-level lab testing to field EL imaging and data services, we support the design, construction and operation of high-performing solar projects.

Learn About PQPsExplore Downstream Services

PVEL's field testbed at PV-USA is one of the industry's most sophisticated outdoor research facilities.

Our grid-connected testbed at PV-USA provides a highly instrumented, field-representative environment for PV equipment testing. First established in 1986, PV-USA is widely recognized as one of the solar industry’s pioneering research facilities.

Today we conduct custom studies for residential, commercial & industrial and utility-scale applications at PV-USA. Our focus is comparative energy yield assessments for PV modules, inverters and balance-of-system components.

PVEL PV-USA field test bed
Explore our testing at PVUSA

Our services benefit the entire solar industry

PVEL helps developers access and optimize financing

We help developers make better procurement decisions with on-demand access to our 700+ product testing reports.

Our data facilitates their selection of proven, bankable equipment for “Approved Vendor Lists” and helps developers access and optimize financing.

PVEL provides proof of quality for smart investment decisions

We give investors objective proof of product quality through our technical due diligence services. In turn, they gain confidence in expected lifetime energy production of solar power systems.

From residential rooftop systems to utility-scale solar power plants, we guide strategic investments and detailed energy yield estimates in projects around the world.

PVEL helps quantify damage and diagnose underperformance of power plants

Our field testing services help quantify the full extent of damage to solar power plants from extreme weather incidents and other unforeseen events. Our services also help identify the cause of system underperformance.

Using PVEL’s data, asset owners and operators can pursue warranty and insurance claims more effectively, even when the damage is invisible to the naked eye.

PVEL helps manufacturers market their products to equipment buyers

We help manufacturers prove their products are reliable, durable, and bankable, which in turn drives rapid and widespread adoption across the global market.

Our PVEL reports introduce manufacturers to a global network of 400+ developers, EPC firms, financial institutions and insurance companies with over 30 GW of annual buying power.

Our services benefit the entire solar industry

Choose partner type to learn more

PVEL helps developers access and optimize financing

We help developers make better procurement decisions with on-demand access to our 700+ product testing reports.

Our data facilitates their selection of proven, bankable equipment for “Approved Vendor Lists” and helps developers access and optimize financing.

PVEL provides proof of quality for smart investment decisions

We give investors objective proof of product quality through our technical due diligence services. In turn, they gain confidence in expected lifetime energy production of solar power systems.

From residential rooftop systems to utility-scale solar power plants, we guide strategic investments and detailed energy yield estimates in projects around the world.

PVEL helps asset owners and operators diagnose system underperformance

Our field testing services help quantify the full extent of damage to solar power plants from extreme weather incidents and other unforeseen events. Our services also help identify the cause of system underperformance.

Using PVEL’s data, asset owners and operators can pursue warranty and insurance claims more effectively, even when the damage is invisible to the naked eye

PVEL helps manufacturers market their products to equipment buyers

We help manufacturers prove their products are reliable, durable, and bankable, which in turn drives rapid and widespread adoption across the global market.

Our PVEL reports introduce manufacturers to a global network of 400+ developers, EPC firms, financial institutions and insurance companies with over 30 GW of annual buying power.

While solar power is a 20+ year investment, the most advanced PV technology is just a few years old - if that. That's where we come in.

We use a variety of methods to test different PV system components in the PVEL lab and outside in the field.

Choose component type to learn more

We provide a wide range of sophisticated electrical, optical, and mechanical module testing in our labs and outdoor testing facilities.

PVEL can support all of your testing needs – whether you need fast LeTID characterization, evaluation of PID sensitivity, or bifacial field testing with varying albedo values.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • Module Product Qualification Program (PQP)
  • Statistical Reliability Batch Testing
  • High-Throughput Module Inspection
  • Reference Cells

We go beyond baseline quality and safety testing to ensure that inverters meet key functionality and performance expectations.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • PV Inverter Product Qualification Program (PQP)
  • Statistical Batch Testing
  • Optimizer & RSD Resiliency and Performance Evaluations
  • Comparative Energy Capture
  • Custom Performance and Reliability Testing Services

We help buyers evaluate the expected performance of products in specific operating conditions and ensure that equipment meets their safety requirements.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • Energy Storage PQP
  • Cell Performance Testing
  • UL 9540A Testing
  • Destructive Testing

We conduct operational, reliability, structural, and performance tests for racking and tracking systems.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • Installation Efficiency Scope (Time Trial)
  • Mechanical Load Testing (Dynamic and Static)
  • Module / Tracker Mounting Compliance Testing
  • Motor and Gearbox Reliability Testing
  • Bearing Reliability Evaluations
  • Tracker Evaluations in the Lab and the Field

We conduct to testing to establish a project’s baseline health, assess damage after force majeure events, troubleshoot underperformance, and document warranty and insurance claims.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • Day-time Field Electroluminescence (EL) Imaging
  • IV Curve Tracing
  • Inverter Performance Evaluations
  • Capacity Testing
  • On-site Performance Troubleshooting

We use a variety of methods to test different PV system components in PVEL's labs and in the field.

MODULES

We provide a wide range of sophisticated electrical, optical, and mechanical module testing in our labs and outdoor testing facilities.

PVEL can support all of your testing needs – whether you need fast LeTID characterization, evaluation of PID sensitivity, or bifacial field testing with varying albedo values.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • PV Module Product Qualification Program (PQP)
  • Statistical Batch Testing
  • High-Throughput Module Inspection
  • Reference Cells
Learn More about Our PV Module PQP
INVERTERS

We go beyond baseline quality and safety testing to ensure that inverters meet key functionality and performance expectations.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • PV Inverter Product Qualification Program (PQP)
  • Statistical Batch Testing
  • Optimizer & RSD Resiliency and Performance Evaluations
  • Comparative Energy Capture
  • Custom Performance and Reliability Testing Services
Learn How Our Inverter PQP Mitigates Risk
ENERGY STORAGE

We help buyers evaluate the expected performance of products in specific operating conditions and ensure that equipment meets their safety requirements.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • Energy Storage Product Qualification Program (PQP)
  • Cell Performance Testing
  • UL 9540A Testing
  • Destructive Testing
MOUNTING SYSTEMS

We conduct operational, reliability, structural, and performance tests for racking and tracking systems.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • Installation Efficiency Scope (Time Trial)
  • Mechanical Load Testing (Dynamic and Static)
  • Module / Tracker Mounting Compliance Testing
  • Motor and Gearbox Reliability Testing
  • Bearing Reliability Evaluations
  • Tracker Evaluations in the Lab and the Field
OPERATING SYSTEMS

We conduct to testing to establish a project’s baseline health, assess damage after force majeure events, troubleshoot underperformance, and document warranty and insurance claims.

Highlighted Capabilities:
  • Day-time Field Electroluminescence (EL) Imaging
  • IV Curve Tracing
  • Inverter Performance Evaluations
  • Capacity Testing
  • On-site Performance Troubleshooting
Explore the Benefits of Field EL Imaging

Learn more

Looking for more information about our services? Contact us for a consultation.