TÜV Rheinland has awarded the world's first certification for IEC 61646 compliance to next generation organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells developed by Konarka Technologies, a manufacturer of solar plastic films that convert light to electricity.
Konarka Power Plastic is the major product line offered by the company. Power Plastic flexible and transparent OPV films are suitable for use in a wide range of building materials, including fabrics, composites, plastics, steel and glass. The films provide design freedom to architects, glass manufacturers and others in the building and construction sectors. They are available in various transparency and color options in different shapes and sizes.
TÜV Rheinland is a major international test center in Cologne, Germany. Its Solar Energy Assessment Center has carried out the testing on Konarka's organic solar cells. The thin-film PV technology from Konarka has several features that make it an ideal solution than crystalline silicon technology and other thin-film solar technologies. With the TÜV Certification, architect and construction partners of the company can integrate lightweight, thin organic solar film into their numerous BIPV glass applications, including windows and curtain walls.
Howard Berke, the company’s Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, remarked that the TÜV certification for IEC compliance is a major milestone for Konarka's OPV cells.