Development of a Solar Energy Research and Test Center at the University of California, Merced

The University of California, Merced (UC Merced) opened in September 2005 as the tenth campus of the University of California system. UC Merced is building a solar energy research program under the direction of Jeff Wright and Roland Winston. The solar energy research program will be complemented by a solar energy test center, which will be operated under the auspices of the State of California. The center will provide technological expertise, consulting, unbiased prototype and systems testing, and testing infrastructure to the solar industry. Performance and reliability testing and demonstration will accelerate the market introduction and provide valuable feedback to the manufacturers