Behind the Delivery of a PV Testing Laboratory: Zealwe Completes Shanghai Energy Technology Development Project

What does it take to turn an empty site into a fully operational PV testing laboratory?

Zealwe Technology recently completed the turnkey delivery of a PV testing laboratory for Shanghai Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd.

Designed as a comprehensive new energy testing center, the laboratory supports performance testing, product R&D, functional verification and technical training. Its testing capabilities cover PV module performance, microcracks, hot spots, mechanical performance, diode performance and durability under extreme environmental conditions.

The project included multiple testing systems for environmental reliability, electrical safety and mechanical reliability, supporting relevant requirements of IEC 61215 and IEC 61730.

More Than Equipment Installation

A turnkey laboratory project involves much more than delivering and positioning equipment.

From site preparation and utility coordination to installation, commissioning, stability testing, training and final handover, every stage affects the final result.

This project involved 22 units of testing equipment across more than 20 equipment types. Different systems had different installation conditions, wiring requirements and commissioning processes.

Multiple systems also had to work together. Hardware interfaces, communication protocols and data formats were checked and verified one by one.

Adapting to Changing Site Conditions

One of the first challenges appeared before installation was fully underway: water and electrical utilities at the site were not yet complete.

Later, delays in infrastructure construction reduced the effective installation and commissioning schedule by approximately one week.

The project team adjusted the work plan immediately.

Before the site was fully ready, the team completed preparation work that was not affected by the unfinished utilities, including pre-installation, cable planning and solution reviews.

Once site conditions were ready, work was divided into three areas, allowing installation, wiring and commissioning activities to proceed in parallel.

The equipment installation and commissioning were ultimately completed according to schedule.

Installation Was Only the Beginning

A completed laboratory may look simple in the final photos: equipment neatly positioned in a clean and organized space.

But considerable work still takes place after installation.

Each of the 22 units was commissioned individually, followed by integrated verification. The systems then underwent one week of continuous stability testing to identify and resolve issues that might not appear during individual equipment checks.

In the final stage, Zealwe engineers worked with the customer's operators through practical training based on standard testing procedures, explained routine maintenance requirements and completed the final acceptance process.

Nearly 100 acceptance criteria were successfully passed.

The laboratory was not considered complete until the customer could operate it independently.

A Project Delivered by a Team

A laboratory of this scale is never delivered by one engineer alone.

More than 10 Zealwe team members supported different stages of the project, covering on-site coordination, construction, hardware installation, system commissioning, material coordination and customer communication.

When technical or construction issues arose, the team worked together to identify solutions and keep the project moving.

Experience from previous laboratory projects, including projects for the Changzhou Institute of Building Science and Trina Storage, also helped the team anticipate potential risks and improve on-site execution.

From an empty site to a fully operational PV testing laboratory, the Shanghai project was another hands-on experience in Zealwe's continuing work in PV laboratory turnkey delivery.

For Zealwe, the work does not end when equipment arrives. It continues through installation, commissioning, validation, training and handover — until the laboratory is ready for reliable day-to-day operation.

Zealwe Technology Co., Ltd.
PV Laboratory Turnkey Solutions | PV Testing Equipment | Engineering Support
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