In 2014, Suntech's modules received the VDE quality-tested certification, placing them as one of three brands globally to receive this quality ranking.
"The cells of PV modules will have micro-cracks if used in areas that experience frequent hail storms, which is detrimental to module performance and long-term reliability," said Xiong Haibo, CEO of Suntech.
"The ranking highlights that our modules exceed market requirements and demonstrates that Suntech follows the market demand. The certification also indicates that Suntech modules can maintain excellent performance, high-quality and safety standards even in extreme weather conditions. We hope to use this recent certification to lay the foundation for Suntech's entry into markets that face unfavorable weather conditions yet are eager to adopt solar solutions."
Established in 1920, the VDE Institute is one of the world's leading testing and certification institutions. It is well-known globally as an international accredited institution for testing various electro technical equipment and appliances. The VDE's standards exceed existing industry quality requirements.
"At present, most manufacturers have passed the hail test based on the standard IEC61215, which uses hails of 25mm in diameter to hit the surface of modules, producing about 1.99J of energy during the test. Yet, the VDE test, uses hail of 40mm in diameter, the 4th level of hail test in accordance with Swiss standards, which uses hail at a speed of 27.5m/s to hit the modules, producing energy no less than 11.1J, which simulates extreme environmental conditions," said Dr. Han Qiang, VDE's general manager in Shanghai.
