TÜV Rheinland aims to help to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment.

Tempe, AZ — May 2, 2012 — TÜV Rheinland PTL, North America's largest solar and photovoltaic (PV) testing company, has been named a standards developing organization (SDO) by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Executive Standards Council.

In its new role as a standards developer, TÜV Rheinland aims to help to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment.

"We are pleased to be part of the U.S. standards development process in a leadership role and working through such a respected and long-standing organization as the American National Standards Institute," says Richard Bozicevich, Vice President for Solar Services in North America. "This recognition, coupled with our status as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory through OSHA, completes the ability to support the market at multiple levels."

This year TÜV Rheinland celebrates 140 years as a global regulatory organization. "The standards development process is a role where we provide leadership in a number of major markets across the world," comments Gerhard Luebken, Chief Regional Officer for North America. "Taking this new position in the USA will give the TÜV Rheinland teams an outlet to leverage that experience to serve the U.S. market."

To receive the accreditation, TÜV Rheinland PTL had to meet ANSI's requirements for openness, balance, consensus and other due process safeguards. Due process is the key to ensuring that ANSI national standards are developed in an environment that is equitable, accessible and responsive to the requirements of various stakeholders. To remain part of the SDO community, TÜV Rheinland PTL will adhere to a set of requirements that govern the consensus development process, "The ANSI Essential Requirements: Due Process Requirements for American National Standards."

ANSI oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector. It works to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment.

TÜV Rheinland PTL tests and certifies systems slated for sale in the European Union, Asian and North American markets to assure that solar thermal, PV, CPV, and concentrated solar power systems comply with electrical, mechanical, and environmental requirements for both product quality and safety.

About 70% of all solar module manufacturers have their products tested by TÜV Rheinland to obtain national and international market licenses. TÜV Rheinland operates test laboratories for solar modules and systems in six locations worldwide: Cologne, Germany; Shanghai, China; Taichung, China; Yokohama, Japan; and Bangalore, India, as well as TÜV Rheinland PTL's facility in Tempe, Arizona. Hundreds of experts specializing in solar technologies work at the existing test centers.

For more information, visit www.tuvptl.com or call TÜV Rheinland toll-free at 1-TUV-RHEINLAND (888-743-4652).

About TÜV Rheinland PTL, LLC

Based in Tempe, Ariz., TÜV Rheinland PTL, LLC is a leading provider of safety and performance testing and market certification serving every sector of the photovoltaic and solar thermal marketplace, from the supply chain through installation. TÜV Rheinland PTL is a unique partnership between Arizona State University, an institution with more than 50 years of research on solar energy and extensive solar testing know-how, and TÜV Rheinland®, a $1.9 billion global provider of independent testing, assessment, and certification services. With an international network across six continents, TÜV Rheinland® maintains the largest network of Solar Energy Laboratories worldwide, with five major laboratories on three continents. For more information, visit www.tuvptl.com.

About TÜV Rheinland

Founded in 1872, TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent testing, inspection, and certification services, ensuring quality and safety for people, the environment and technology in nearly all aspects of life. The company maintains a presence in 500 locations spanning 61 countries, employs 16,000 people and has an annual revenue of $1.9 billion (€1.4 billion). TÜV Rheinland inspects technical equipment, products and services, oversees projects and helps to shape processes for a wide variety of companies through its worldwide network of approved labs, testing facilities and education centers. Since 2006, the company has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. For more information, visit www.tuv.com/us.