BP Solar Receives New 'VDE Quality Tested' Seal at Intersolar VDE certification substantiates reliability and quality of BP Solar modules

New VDE test approach exceeds all existing test standards

Hamburg/ München (ots) - BP Solar, a leading designer and marketer of photovoltaic (PV) products, is one of the very first companies certified by the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE) to comply with its new testing requirements. BP Solar modules are now entitled to carry the 'VDE Quality Tested' seal, which will be displayed at this years Intersolar Europe international exhibition in Munich after the official certification award ceremony by the VDE.

In order to validate increased reliability and sustainability to solar energy investors the VDE together with its partner Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has developed a new quality level for the testing and certification of PV modules. As one of the key players in the PV industry, BP Solar has substantially contributed to the progress of the expanded VDE test approach.

"We are very proud being among the first PV companies receiving the new 'VDE Quality Tested' certificate. This is a terrific independent validation of the lower investment risks we provide to our customers due to the increased reliability and quality of our modules." says David Arndt, Global Product Director at BP Solar.

The novel VDE test approach goes well beyond existing standards. It requires regular laboratory controls of modules with increased test time and sample rates exceeding international test standards. Main enhancements over all existing standards are progressive manufacturing in-line quality tests controlled and audited by the VDE. Some of the defined in-line tests are required for 100 percent of the modules produced.

"With nearly 40 years of experience in module design and testing we were pleased to support the 'VDE Quality Tested' initiative from the start by intensive sharing of our test results and experience." explains Chris LaMothe, Product Development and Technology Director at BP Solar.

The VDE test procedure has been developed to prove increased reliability and durability as well as to validate lower degradation rates in modules. Compared with the test procedure of the IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 the VDE approach additionally requires the following enhancements:

High reliability

   - Testing with increased number of samples
   - Testing with enhanced testing time and number of cycles 

Optimized durability

   - Additional dynamic load test
   - Robustness of terminations test with increased force 

Low degradation

   - Improved pass/fail criteria
   - Maximum degradation of the power of 5% over the enhanced test 
     sequence 

Continuous line monitoring

   - Stricter and upgraded requirements within the 100% routine test
   - Quarterly testing on production samples collected from the 
     running lines of each factory 

About the VDE

With 35,000 members (including 1,300 companies, 8,000 students and 4,000 young professionals) and 1,000 employees, the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE) is one of the largest technical and scientific associations in Europe. The VDE embraces science, standardization work and product testing and certification under one roof. The VDE mark, known and respected by 67 percent of Germans, is considered to be a symbol for the highest safety standards. The Institute's independent test engineers subject more than 100,000 electric and electronic products a year to rigorous tests before affixing the VDE mark. VDE experts supervise over 7,000 manufacturing plants throughout the world. Cooperation agreements with more than 50 countries ensure that the inspections conducted by the VDE Institute are internationally recognized. More than 200,000 product families and well over a million individual products worldwide carry VDE certification marks. The VDE works in the fields of information technology, energy, medical engineering, microelectronics, micro- and nanotechnology and automation.

For more information, please visit www.vde.com. Certificate and product data sheet of the 'VDE Quality Tested' seal can be seen at: http://www.vde.com/certificate - reference no. 40032588.

About BP Solar

BP Solar part of BP Alternative Energy, is a global company that designs, manufactures and markets solar energy products and provides complete solar energy solutions for the residential, commercial, industrial and utility sectors. With almost 40 years of experience and over 1.3 gigawatts sold in more than 160 countries, BP Solar is one of the world's leading solar companies. It is a pioneer in developing crystalline silicon photovoltaic technologies and continues to drive PV technology forward through its US-based research and development center.

About BP Alternative Energy

BP Alternative Energy is a portfolio of some of the fastest growing energy businesses in the world today. Since 2005, BP has invested over $5 billion against a commitment to invest $8bn up to 2015 in renewable energy sources. BP is investing in biofuels, wind and solar while building long term options in carbon capture & storage and clean technology.

For more information about BP Solar or BP Alternative Energy, please take a look at the websites www.bpsolar.de, www.bpsolar.com, www.bpalternativenergy.com .