MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolFocus, the leading developer of Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) systems, announced today that its SF-1000P module is the first CPV product to meet the rigorous performance, qualification, and safety standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62108 standard. The IEC is the world’s leading organization that prepares and publishes international standards for electrical and electronic technologies.

“The real-world testing conducted for the IEC CPV standard proves that SolFocus systems meet both the performance, qualification, and reliability criteria, critical in bringing CPV to a truly global scale,” said Mark Crowley, president and chief executive officer of SolFocus. “We have already proven that CPV can yield nearly twice the efficiency of traditional PV systems, but meeting the IEC’s rigorous CPV requirements proves that SolFocus systems can perform consistently across a variety of climates and environments. This validation sends a message to developers, investors and customers that CPV is on track to global commercialization.”

The IEC 62108 standard for photovoltaic concentrators and receivers was created to verify the safety, photoelectric performance and environmental reliability of panels designed with CPV technology and ready to be introduced to this emerging marketplace. The standard was designed to be universal, taking into account different environments and manufacturing technologies across geographies.

The SolFocus system was shown to meet all requirements of the IEC 62108 standard, which specifies the design qualification and type approval of concentrator photovoltaic modules and assemblies suitable for long-term operation in general open-air climates. The electrical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics of the SolFocus CPV system were shown to be safe, high-performing and capable of withstanding prolonged exposure in varied climates.

Certification specialist Six 9’s Reliable, L.L.C. and Photovoltaic Testing Lab TÜV Rheinland PTL worked with SolFocus in achieving this first of its kind IEC CPV certification.

In addition to certification to the IEC standard, SolFocus has also just had its SF-1100 modules approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC) to be placed on the Eligible California Solar Initiative (CSI) Solar Electric Equipment List. This listing assures customers that the solar equipment has been thoroughly tested for safety and meets the requirements of the CEC. SolFocus remains the only CPV system manufacturer to achieve CEC listing, which is required for customers in California to receive rebates for energy produced by solar systems.

The SolFocus CPV design employs a system of reflective optics to concentrate sunlight 650 times onto small, highly efficient solar cells. SolFocus systems use approximately 1/1,000th of the active, expensive solar cell material compared to traditional photovoltaic panels and is built primarily with readily available and cost-effective materials such as aluminum and glass, delivering zero emissions energy, with the lowest carbon footprint in manufacturing being over 97-percent recyclable.

About SolFocus

The SolFocus mission is to enable solar energy generation at a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) competitive with traditional fossil fuel sources. To achieve this goal, SolFocus has developed leading concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology which combines high-efficiency solar cells (approaching 40%) and advanced optics to provide solar energy solutions which are scalable, dependable and capable of delivering on the promise of clean, low-cost, renewable energy. SolFocus is headquartered in Mountain View, California with European operations headquartered in Madrid, Spain, and manufacturing in Mesa, Arizona as well as with manufacturing partners in India and China.