The ASU Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory (PTL), located on the Polytechnic campus, was recently awarded an $800,000 grant through the Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative.
Solar America Initiative is the government's national effort to encourage more widespread use of solar energy by making renewable technologies cost-competitive with conventional energy sources. This is the fourth grant in the last two years the SAI will have awarded the PTL.
The PTL on Polytechnic is one of only two labs in the world certified by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation to conduct the full spectrum of industry testing for performance and safety of solar modules, said Paul Symanski, PTL marketing manager. Therefore, Symanski said, "The PTL must operate like a commercial business."
The PTL is employed by manufacturers of solar energy units from more than 30 different countries.
"With the industry growing at the rate it is, we have added almost 100 new clients in just the last year," Symanski said.
Mikaela Spizman, pre-veterinary medicine freshman, said she has never really heard anything about the PTL but said, "I would love to see them come up with a solar panel that I could put on top of my car, so I don't have to buy gas anymore."
Dr. Govindasamy Tamizh-Mani, director of the PTL, said that the grant money will be used to conduct reliability tests on concentrator photovoltaic modules, the newest development in the world of solar technology.
Concentrator photovoltaic modules, in contrast to flat-plate panels, use many small mirrors to amplify the energy in the sun's rays.
Testing of solar modules involves exposing the units to extreme temperatures, humidity, UV rays, shatter resistance and water submersion, among other things. They also test efficiency of performance output.
For an average-sized small family home, Symanski said, "Depending on the utilities set up, a two-kilowatt system should be sufficient to supplement your energy source."
To learn more about the Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory, visit the PTL Web site at www.poly.asu.edu/ptl.
Reach the reporter at: kbielski@asu.edu.
