CNPV Solar Power SA, a public limited liability company organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products, confirmed their position within the international, leading group of solar module providers, with their field performance ratio results measured by Photon Laboratory during 2011.
Photon Laboratory's long term field performance testing of solar modules in real world conditions is widely accepted as producing the data most important to decision makers for solar PV choices. Recently Photon has amended its data collation with the addition of a "performance ratio" which reflects the kilowatt hours generated, compared to the nominal kilowatt output of modules supplied. In other words, it overcomes the label rating variances that are present when comparing individual suppliers and exposes the modules tested to the same real world conditions of variable sunshine intensity, weather, temperature and humidity. These results are then compiled and allow for the ranking on a "like for like" basis between all suppliers and all technology types. The margin of error stated within this test process is +/- 1.85%.
"Great news for CNPV, our customers and strategic partners," beamed Mr Bypina Veerraju Chaudary, CNPV's COO and CTO, on receiving the data. " By listening and responding to our strategic partners' input we have delivered performance that sits within the best in the world. Our performance in this evaluation was 6 in the list of 46 with a 2% deviation from the top ranked supplier, well within the margin of error of the test results. The diversity of the data once again demonstrates that not all modules are equal, and we are immensely satisfied that Photon's expertise in revealing the variances in real use supports our own data and representation."
In the Photon Field Performance Test, two modules from each supplier are tested in a laboratory in Germany, with output measured over different seasons and different light conditions. The test recorded a performance ratio of 88.8% for the CNPV modules.
Of course this is only part of the data important to purchasers of solar PV; investment cost, total cost of ownership, coupled with overall power generation has many facets to be considered.
Back to CNPV's Mr Chaudary: "Our consistent vision is about delivering real value. The Photon data underscores part of our progress on this itinerary. Within CNPV, we treat the elements of total cost of ownership, safety of investment and investment costs with the same focus as delivering real world performance. Our customers' data continues to demonstrate lower customer outlay for highest returns ratios, based upon our provable longer life, greater conversion capability, protection of investment and lower cost base. Together with our customers we continue to develop improved techno-commercial solutions to the markets' requirements. We eagerly await additional external ratifications on our newer developments to give further satisfaction to our customers that they continue to have the best value solar PV energy conversion available."
CNPV wishes to applaud Photon and the leading participants within the evaluation; By removing some of the mystery surrounding real word power harvesting, and demonstrating the myriad of performance variations, the total solar market has a much improved chance of continuing to grow in the future to the benefit of all.
