San Jose to Welcome Underwriters Laboratories' Solar Testing Facility; Largest Site of Its Kind in North America to Provide Photovoltaic Module Testing and Certification
Market Wire, July 7, 2008 Monday 12:04 PM GMT
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WHAT: On July 14, San Jose, California will welcome the opening of the |
new Underwriters Laboratories Photovoltaic Technology Center of |
Excellence, a 20,000 square-foot facility intended to increase |
testing capacity for the renewable energy industry and get |
UL-Listed photovoltaic (PV) products to market faster. |
Underwriters Laboratories, a world leader in product safety testing |
and certification, will open the state-of-the-art photovoltaic (PV) |
testing and certification facility and host the ribbon cutting |
ceremony at 2191 Zanker Road in north San Jose. When fully |
operational, the facility will be the largest of its kind in North |
America. |
WHO: The following business and government leaders will be part of the |
program to officially open Underwriters Laboratories Photovoltaic |
Technology Center of Excellence: |
-- Evelyn Butler, industry manager, Renewable Energy, |
Underwriters Laboratories |
-- Tom McCalmont, chairman, SolarTech |
-- Brian McGowan, deputy secretary, Economic Development and |
Commerce, State of California |
-- Dr. William Mulligan, vice president, Technology and |
Research, |
SunPower Corp. |
-- Chuck Reed, mayor, City of San Jose |
-- Keith Williams, president and CEO, Underwriters Laboratories |
-- Government, business and solar company leaders |
-- More than 150 solar technologists, developers and |
manufacturers |
WHEN: Monday, July 14, 2008 |
10-11:00 a.m. Check-in |
11:00 Program |
-- Evelyn Butler, industry manager, Renewable |
Energy, Underwriters Laboratories |
-- Keith Williams, president & CEO, Underwriters |
Laboratories |
-- Chuck Reed, mayor, City of San Jose |
-- Tom McCalmont, chairman, SolarTech |
-- Dr. William Mulligan, vice-president, Technology |
& Research, |
SunPower Corp |
-- Special Guest Speaker |
Noon Press Q&A |
12:15 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony |
12:30 Industry Network Luncheon |
1:30 Laboratory Tours |
WHERE: Underwriters Laboratories Photovoltaic Technology Center of |
Excellence |
2191 Zanker Rd |
San Jose, CA 95131 |
BACKGROUND:
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) decided to develop its testing facility in San Jose, the largest of its kind in North America to date, to partner with the growing community of solar start-ups and existing companies who are bringing new technology, including thin-film PV, concentrated solar power and other cell technologies into mainstream production.
UL's decision to establish their Photovoltaic Technology Center of Excellence in the City of San Jose was based largely upon a foundation consisting of strong support from City government and the many surrounding businesses dedicated to researching and developing progressive renewable energy technologies. Their decision also complements Governor Schwarzenegger's renewable energy direction for the State of California.
The move by UL will also help San Jose to help achieve its Green Vision plan, an aggressive set of goals to enable San Jose to lead the nation in becoming a model of how cities can be environmental responsible and creating economic opportunity at the same time.
In addition to collaborating with the City of San Jose, UL is working with SolarTech, an initiative of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, to help reach as many solar product manufacturers as possible. SolarTech provides the opportunity for introduction of a safety-related discipline during the early stages of product development in the PV supply-chain and an end-to-end solution for PV companies.
The global growth rate for PV products has increased to 30 percent annually, according to Worldwatch. The requirement for PV modules to be listed to UL standards in U.S. and Canadian markets, as well as, to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards has increased demand for product testing and certification services.
Contacts |
Mark DiCello |
GlobalFluency |
(650) 279-7546 mobile |
(650) 433-4161 land |
Email Contact |
Steven Brewster |
(415) 577-8851 mobile |
(408) 535-8168 land |
San Jose Office of Economic Development |
Email Contact |
Joe Hirschmugl |
Global Media Relations Manager |
Underwriters Laboratories |
(847) 830-1404 mobile |
(847) 664-1508 land |
Email Contact |
SOURCE: City of San Jose, California
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