Q CELLS' solar panels receive VDE certification

Solar manufacturer Q CELLS has been recognised by the Australian Clean Energy Council (CEC) as the first company to have its entire range of solar panels certified with the VDE Quality Tested seal of approval.

All solar panels must pass basic testing to international standards, backed by annual factory inspections, to be installed in Australia - a standard set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

However, the company has also achieved the VDE Quality Tested certification, which sets out a test criteria exceeding minimum industry standards.

“A recent review of solar module approvals saw the introduction of more rigorous approval criteria, and Q CELLS is the first solar manufacturer to have its full panel range certified by the VDE Quality Tested program,” said Sandy Pulsford, technical assessor at the CEC.

“To achieve the certification, all Q CELLS panels were put through rigorous testing to measure reliability, durability, low degradation and continuous line monitoring.”

The CEC said it now recognises solar modules that meet verifiable higher levels of testing in the approved modules list.

Q CELLS Australia Managing Director Patrick Duignan said the company is pleased to achieve the certification.

“We are very proud to have our strict testing levels that we adhere to at all our manufacturing sites worldwide recognised by the Clean Energy Council,” said Duignan.

“We are constantly testing and developing our panels so that they not only exceed expectations but continue to work consistently for decades.”

The VDE Quality Tested program is a more thorough certificate than minimum IEC testing, including continuous random sampling and quarterly inspections, with solar panels tested over longer periods of time and exposed to higher stress during thermal testing.

Q CELLS conducts in-house research and development, with real-world testing at various sites including Alice Springs, allowing the manufacturer to award a 12-year product and 25-year performance warranty on all panels.