Partner for the highest standards.
Our quality standards start right at the beginning of the supply chain: we know our suppliers personally and carry out regular inspections of their production facilities. This enables us to ensure that respectful and legally compliant treatment of people, nature and the environment is guaranteed at all times.
Our own brand products - IBC SOLAR quality innovations.
One thing that sets IBC SOLAR apart is that we don’t just install components by renowned, certified manufacturers — we also develop our own high-performance solutions for everything from modules to storage. IBC SOLAR modules and bracket systems are tested separately and together for bending and breaking at SUNLAB’s independent PV testing laboratory. It’s the only quality assurance measure of its kind in the industry.
Tested and certified quality.
Our products are certified according to currently valid standards and inspected by globally recognised institutions such as the TÜV, the VDE, and Fraunhofer ISE. Extensive incoming goods inspections and long-term tests under real-world conditions in our testing facility system help us maintain consistently high standards of quality.
Reliability throughout the life of the system.
Since we are confident in the quality of our products and appreciate the importance of reliability and trust, we offer our customers longer-than-average warranties and comprehensive insurance policies. This means that you can enjoy the use of your solar system for its entire service life without any worries, and when the system really has reached the end of its service life or modules need to be replaced, we work together with the waste disposal company Take-e-way in Germany, for example, which takes care of proper recycling and recycles up to 95% of solar systems.
“My roof now makes me independent and reduces my electricity costs.”Managing Director - Autohaus Dresen
“From start to finish, I feel well looked after and confident that my concerns will be dealt with competently by the technical support team. The team is always friendly, professional and informative. I was particularly impressed by the on-site commissioning support provided by a colleague who knows exactly what he is talking about. The quality of the enquiry processing and the professionalism of the team are absolutely commendable.”Employee
“IBC SOLAR is our prioritised partner. We particularly appreciate the open dialogue at eye level, the digital processing, the adherence to deadlines and the honest dealings with each other - even if the topics are sometimes unpleasant. This is how we envisage a specialist partnership and we are happy to live it, as it makes construction site management much easier and simpler for us. The Competence Centre also gives us individual opportunities for employee training and is always up-to-date with its topics.”Managing Director
“Process handling at IBC SOLAR is characterised by speed and efficiency. Customers can rely on rapid processing aimed at providing a quick solution. IBC SOLAR also relies on the SUNLAB test laboratory. This specialised laboratory enables thorough identification and processing of difficulties that are not apparent at first glance. IBC SOLAR stands out overall with its customer-orientated warranty practices and effective claims management. This emphasises IBC SOLAR's commitment to the long-term satisfaction and safety of its customers.”Project Management - Sales
How SUNLAB tests.
SUNLAB’s independent, autonomous testing laboratory is run by solar experts with many years of experience testing photovoltaic modules and components. It uses professional, standardised testing procedures in its high-tech machine and laboratory park, ensuring objective results that reliably identify potential weak points and offer a clear picture of the tested module’s quality and performance.
PV modules run a 7-test gauntlet at SUNLAB.
The measure of all things
The performance test
Finding enlightenment
The electroluminescence test
Bend, don’t break
The load test
South Pole and Sahara
The alternating temperature test
Getting steamy
The alternating temperature test
Truly electrifying
Potential-induced voltage test
Seal of approval
The insulation test under wet conditions
What’s a PV module without great performance? To test whether their rated performance actually reflects reality, SUNLAB uses an LED-based, Class AAA++ sunlight simulator to expose modules to light as strong as 1,200 W/m². Illumination times can be varied to fit the module technology as described in Standard IEC 60904-1.
Module damage at the cellular level can’t be seen with the naked eye, and even microtears or broken individual cells can impede the performance of the module — or the entire system. Whereas the performance test involves generating electricity with simulated sunlight, the electroluminescence test conducts electricity to the modules. This causes the intact cells to give off near-infrared light, while the defective cells remain dark.
PV modules have to withstand a minimum load. To measure this, SUNLAB mounts modules onto a load table, either alone or in combination with a bracket. As specified in the standard, up to 5400 Pa of pressure and up to 2400 Pa of tension are applied to the module in alternation. Height sensors are used to measure the module’s deflection, and an electric load is applied to measure its voltage and current.
PV modules are placed into climate chambers, where they alternate between ‘freezing’ and ‘sweating’.
In fact, they are exposed to temperatures that switch between -40°C and +85°C over 600 hours — which simulates a 20-year ageing process minus the UV aspect.
PV modules need to be able to handle heat and humidity easily for very long periods of time. To simulate this, they spend 1,000 hours in a climate chamber with automatic temperature regulation and condensation control, enduring +85°C temperatures at 85% humidity.
This test verifies that the PV module maintains its performance in a warm, moist environment without ageing prematurely. To this end, the module spends 96 hours connected to a high-voltage direct current source inside a climate chamber set to 60°C. SUNLAB conducts before-and-after performance and electroluminescence tests.
It’s important to prevent the active components of the PV module from coming into contact with rain, snow or dew. To test that the module is properly sealed, SUNLAB immerses the glass side in water halfway up the frame, and then moistens the back including the connection socket. The module is then short-circuited, and a sensor measures any escaping leakage current.
SUNLAB
Would you like to find out more about SUNLAB, its services and the team behind it?
Go directly to SUNLAB here
ISO certification by TÜV Rheinland
TÜV Rheinland has given us official confirmation of the company philosophy and quality guarantee we have always practised. Since June of 2012, IBC SOLAR AG has been certified according to:
- DIN EN ISO 9001 for quality management
- DIN EN ISO 14001 for environmental management
- DIN EN ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety
Our growing Technical Management and Maintenance (O&M) business segment also numbers among our ISO-certified processes. Many of our products are also subject to TÜV Rheinland inspections and hold ISO certification.
View IBC SOLAR’s ISO certificates here
Info about our long-term guarantees
Product
Product and service guarantees
IBC SOLAR’s product and service guarantees reflect the high standards to which we hold ourselves as a German guarantor. Our quality-assurance system is unparalleled in the industry, with everything from supplier qualifications to the seven robustness tests we commission from the SUNLAB PV testing laboratory. This helps ensure that our modules deliver on our promises and offer maximum energy yields at all times.
Product combinations
Our 15 years mounting / module combo warranty
We don’t just test our modules by themselves—we apply the same rigorous standards to module-and-bracket combinations. How else could we offer you such outstanding warranty promises? This combination warranty also applies to any consequential damage that occurs to the connection between IBC SOLAR brackets and modules. It’s all straightforward and completely free of charge to you for the next 15 years.
