REC Group has put its REC Alpha Pure-RX solar panels under third-party testing for resistance to 45-mm hailstones, according to IEC61215 MQT 17 protocols. The industry baseline requires certification for 25-mm hailstones hitting the panel’s front at a velocity of 83 km/h. REC says that the REC Alpha Pure-RX demonstrated its strength against 45-mm hailstones at a velocity of 110 km/h, as tested by Changzhou Huayang Inspection and Testing Technology Co., the official laboratory of TÜV SÜD in China.
Already certified according to IEC 61215 for resistance to 35-mm hailstones, the REC Alpha Pure-RX panel was subjected to 44 impacts from 40- and 45-mm ice balls. In the final analysis, even after impact from 22 different 45-mm hailstones, the module showed no glass breakage and continued to meet all visual, electrical and performance requirements. The results highlight that these REC panels can tolerate ten times more kinetic energy per impact than the industry standard baseline.
The panels use 3.2-mm font-glass, a 30-mm frame and two support bars across the rear for added strength. With this new testing, the REC Alpha Pure-RX now allows loads of up to 10,000 Pa (1,020 kg/m2) when installed using six-point clamping. Reaching 470 W in a full-black design, the panel uses heterojunction (HJT) solar cells.
“REC is synonymous with premium quality in the solar industry. These specification improvements affirm the durability of REC Alpha Pure-RX panels in harsh climates,” says Cemil Seber, Vice President of Global Marketing & Product Management at REC. “Going solar is a long-term decision. By being resistant to 45-mm hailstones and allowing loads of up to 10,000 Pa, REC Alpha Pure-RX panels can survive extreme conditions without costly damage and maintain high power output for the long term.”
News item from REC
