IPSOL's solar panel centre of excellence uses MiniTec Motion System

IPSOL Energy Ltd provides specialist product test, R&D and consultancy services in clean energy with particular emphasis on the rapidly expanding Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. From its base in Nottingham, the Company operates the UK's first and only fully accredited test-house for IEC certification of commercial solar panels and offers many other complementary services including PV module performance measurement, environmental evaluation and PV cell characterisation. A strategic partner and a spin-out company from Loughborogh University, IPSOL's Centre of Excellence includes state of the art test fixturing and motion equipment based around MiniTec Profile System machine framing and building components. Recently completed IPSOL installations have included MiniTec's structural elements and machine frame hardware for three separate IEC certification tests that each required the flexibility to accommodate a wide assortment of solar panel types and sizes as the Unit Under Test, and to provide a stable structure for various pieces of measurement or test-support equipment. The projects covered an enclosed 30m3 Soak Room where PV panel performance is measured over long periods under simulated light and environmental conditions, a UV-Degradation test-stand that measures a solar panel's resistance to UV exposure, and a Hail Test where 25 mm diameter ice balls are 'fired' at the panel to test its ability to withstand such impact. From the initial contact MiniTec worked closely with IPSOL, using its own in-house design service to develop 3D CAD concept drawings for each test-stand, incorporating all of the salient information for IPSOL's preferred measurement equipment that would eventually be fitted. "From the outset we were impressed with the consultancy that we received from MiniTec" explains IPSoL's CEO, Peter Khoury "we had a good idea of what was required and gave them sketches to work with, but the attention to detail was particularly pleasing."