Special Labs for Testing Solar Thermal Products

North Carolina State University and the University of New Haven are in the process of developing new special labs for testing solar thermal products.

At present there are only five accredited labs in the U.S. for testing solar thermal products. This has led to a shortfall in the availability of such testing services and the U.S. government is addressing ways to address this deficit.

Solar thermal products, such as those that are used to run domestic water heaters need to be certified. Home owners who install solar energy systems are eligible for tax credits. But for getting the tax credits the solar products they install have to certified and tested at the designated special labs.

University of New Haven is to open its special solar thermal products testing lab in 2012, while the North Carolina State University is to open its lab  later in 2011.