BP Solar Modules Score Highest in Independent Laboratory Test
by Windy Dankoff
The Testing Center for Photovoltaic Components (TISO) is a laboratory in Switzerland, supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. TISO has tested and compared the performance of PV modules from 16 major manufacturers. The tests include BP Solar BP-580 and BP-585 modules. BP scored among the highest when comparing measured power vs. manufacturers rated power after one and two years of exposure. More significantly, BP scored HIGHEST IN ENERGY PRODUCTION in terms of watt-hours per day per rated watt.
| BP modules actually produce their specified output, unlike other leading brands, and |
| BP modules show superiority during lower light conditions, resulting in the highest daily watt-hour output. |
| They are made in the USA. |
Copyright © 1999-2001 by Dankoff Solar Products, used with permission.
MODULES TESTED AT THE LEEE-TISO CENTRE
Tested modules (excel file) to download
|
|
Manufacturer |
Module |
Cell |
Pn |
P0 |
P6 |
P12 |
P24 |
(P0-Pn)/Pn |
(P6-P0)/P0 |
(P12-P6)/P6 |
(P12-P0)/P0 |
(P24-P12)/P12 |
(P12-Pn)/Pn |
Test |
|
|
|
|
|
[W] |
[W] |
[W] |
[W] |
[W] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
year |
|
1 |
USSC |
UPM880 |
a-Si |
22 |
25.6 |
|
17.9 |
16.9 |
16.4% |
|
|
-30.1% |
-5.6% |
-18.6% |
1993 |
|
2 |
BP Solar |
BP460 |
m-Si |
60 |
53.6 |
|
52.3 |
|
-10.7% |
|
|
-2.4% |
|
-12.8% |
1993 |
|
3 |
Siemens |
M55 |
m-Si |
53 |
52.3 |
|
49.4 |
48 |
-1.3% |
|
|
-5.5% |
-2.8% |
-6.8% |
1993 |
|
4 |
Sharp |
NT907S |
m-Si |
70 |
69.4 |
|
65.5 |
|
-0.9% |
|
|
-5.6% |
|
-6.4% |
1993 |
|
5 |
Photowatt |
BPX47500 |
p-Si |
48 |
40.7 |
|
40.4 |
|
-15.2% |
|
|
-0.7% |
|
-15.8% |
1993 |
|
6 |
Solarex |
MSX60 |
p-Si |
60 |
57.3 |
|
55 |
52.3 |
-4.5% |
|
|
-4.0% |
-4.9% |
-8.3% |
1993 |
|
7 |
Helios |
H60 |
m-Si |
60 |
53.6 |
|
51.4 |
50.7 |
-10.7% |
|
|
-4.1% |
-1.4% |
-14.3% |
1994 |
|
8 |
Photowatt |
PWX500 |
p-Si |
46 |
48.9 |
|
47.1 |
46.6 |
6.3% |
|
|
-3.7% |
-1.1% |
2.4% |
1994 |
|
9 |
Kyocera |
LA361K51S |
p-Si |
51 |
51.1 |
|
49.4 |
48.9 |
0.2% |
|
|
-3.3% |
-1.0% |
-3.1% |
1995 |
|
10 |
Solarex |
MSX120 |
p-Si |
120 |
115 |
|
110.8 |
107.3 |
-4.0% |
|
|
-3.8% |
-3.2% |
-7.7% |
1995 |
|
11 |
GPV |
GPV110M |
m-Si |
110 |
107 |
|
105.4 |
104.6 |
-3.1% |
|
|
-1.1% |
-0.8% |
-4.2% |
1995 |
|
12 |
BP Solar |
BP585 |
m-Si |
85 |
84.6 |
|
83.2 |
83.8 |
-0.5% |
|
|
-1.7% |
0.7% |
-2.1% |
1996 |
|
13 |
Newtec |
SDZ3610 |
m-Si |
36 |
35.4 |
|
34.7 |
34.4 |
-1.7% |
|
|
-2.0% |
-0.9% |
-3.6% |
1996 |
|
14 |
USSC |
UPM880 |
a-Si |
22 |
26.9 |
|
17.5 |
17.1 |
22.3% |
|
|
-34.9% |
-2.3% |
-20.5% |
1996 |
|
15 |
ASE |
PS94SP100 |
|