New Mexico Announces New Solar Testing Lab

Albuquerque, New Mexico will be making contributions to the next generation of solar energy technology with help from a newly announced research facility.

This week, CFV Solar Test Laboratory reported that it plans to locate a new solar module testing laboratory in the city. The laboratory is jointly owned by the CSA Group, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, and other entities.

"The decision to place this new solar testing facility in New Mexico puts us in the epicenter of the PV installation market in the U.S." said Randall W. Luecke, the president of CSA International. "The conditions, from a business and testing perspective, made choosing Albuquerque a strategically smart move that will allow for market growth and excellent outdoor test conditions."

The planned laboratory will be located close to the Albuquerque airport, the Sandia National Labs, the University of New Mexico and other locations that are relevant to the solar energy industry.

The project, which quickly drew praise from Governor Bill Richardson for its significance to the industry, is expected to create as many as 40 jobs involving performance and safety testing of photovoltaic panels.

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