Photo Credit: PVEL
The union between solar-focused PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) and DNV GL is no more.
The two testing companies announced their split on Monday, in a move that DNV GL CEO Ditlev Engel said would give the solar testing lab “more flexibility to serve its customers.” PVEL founder Jenya Meydbray will be the company’s CEO.
PVEL, established in 2010, joined DNV GL in 2014 (DNV and GL joined in 2013). At the time, DNV GL said the acquisition increased its “ability to support the global energy industry in making the transition to a reliable, affordable and cleaner energy future.”
Now, both companies say they can better accomplish their missions as separate entities.
“The leadership teams of both companies believe we can deliver more value to our clients and the industry as separate companies,” said Tara Doyle, formerly head of business development and project management at DNV GL and now PVEL’s chief commercial officer. “Our service offerings are different, and operating separately affords PVEL the autonomy to implement tools and systems that are uniquely suited to solar labs.”
The two companies will continue to work together on the annual PV Module Reliability Scorecard, a cornerstone of their previous collaboration.
PVEL also said it will continue leading a bifacial solar study it began under DNV GL with a $200,000 grant from the Department of Energy. Doyle spoke with Greentech Media about that study back in August. It aims to capitalize on the excitement surrounding bifacial technology, which is now more technologically accessible, and speed its commercialization.
“There’s definitely interest and a lot of buzz,” said Doyle this summer of bifacial technology, adding, “We haven’t so far seen a widespread adoption of bifacial procurement across the large-scale developers and procurers of PV modules.”
Initial data on that study is expected this summer. Doyle noted that the PVEL team will also manage a $1.5 million DOE bifacial research project awarded to Cypress Creek Renewables. That grant is also geared toward decreasing the cost of bifacial modules to encourage uptake in the solar industry. Meydbray most recently worked as vice president of solar technology at Cypress Creek.
PVEL said its entire 30-person team — encompassing lab operations, engineering, business development, project management and leadership — will move from the DNV GL mothership to its independent operation.
Looking ahead, Meydbray said the company’s core services will remain unchanged, with a focus on testing, building new programs to support solar clients, and “generating the bankability data that solar PV developers and banks need to optimize financial transactions.”
Doyle said the team’s new form will allow it to navigate the rapidly changing solar and storage landscapes with more agility.
“As a leaner team, we are streamlining the operational processes behind the development of new tests and methodologies so that we can create the data our clients need even more efficiently,” said Doyle. “Ultimately, this allows us to be even more effective in our marketplace.”