Nov 15 2010
The DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle manufactured by Dow Solar, a Dow Chemical Company, has become the first residential solar roofing single with an included linking system to get safety certification from the Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
The POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle is actually an innovative solar PV panel offered in the shape of solar roofing shingle for easy integration with rooftops utilizing asphalt shingle products. The product drastically reduces the installation time and the problem of on- roof wiring for installing it. The product can be installed with the least number of roof- perforations and can be installed in the same way like any other normal roof shingle.
The company worked along with Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a product safety guarantee and compliance solutions providing institution, in identifying the required test process to check safety of its exclusive product design and all other requirements related to a mixed solar and roofing product. The product received UL certification for complying with the requirements of UL 746, 1703, 1897, 790, 486 and 514 and by undergoing over 50 separate tests. The requirements include resistance against wind and fire, meeting the necessities of electrical codes such as appropriate wiring and PV connections. In addition to the UL certification testing process, the company is currently performing various tests on a group of installed solar shingles to ascertain the sturdiness of the product in adverse weather and temperature conditions.
The company has selected its thin-film CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium deSelenide) as photovoltaic material for use in the DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle. The CIGS technology provides higher level of sunlight conversion and power generation efficiency and incorporates a flexible foil base material provided by Global Solar Energy. The new CIGS PV material when utilized in the DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle, achieves reliable power conversion efficiency to meet the growing power demand. The DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle is anticipated to be available for commercial usage in a pick of US markets during the middle of 2011.
Source: http://www.dowsolar.com/