GAF Energy, a Standard Industries company, announced plans last week to build a new state-of-the-art solar roofing testing facility and launch a new round of Building Integrated Solar (BIPV) testing, partly thanks to a U.S. Department of Energy investment.

In a June 18 news release, GAF said the project “…aims to develop, test, and validate a combination of optical, thermal, and energy models for roof-integrated solar shingles to improve understanding of the benefits solar shingles provide in heating and air conditioning efficiency for the home.

GAF Energy is partnering with Sandia National Laboratories and its network of regional test centers on the project. The facility will be equipped with weather, PV, and temperature monitoring. The company has conducted ongoing testing of solar roofing with Sandia National Labs since 2021.

"Solar roofing offers the opportunity for residential solar to reach the mainstream and testing is critical to further innovation in this sector," said Martin DeBono, president of GAF Energy. "We're thankful to the Department of Energy for their ongoing commitment to supporting clean energy innovation, and we're looking forward to continuing our partnership with the experts at Sandia National Labs to verify the performance, durability, and benefits of solar roofing."

The Energy Department award was announced earlier this year as part of a broader $71 million investment, including $16 million from President Joe Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure Law that seeks to transform the U.S. energy sector by growing the network of domestic manufacturers across the U.S. solar energy supply chain.

GAF Energy is a leading solar roofing product design and development manufacturer. The company's award-winning Timberline Solar system features what the company describes as “the world's first nail-able solar shingle and is the only roof system to directly integrate solar technology into traditional roofing processes and materials.” 

GAF Energy recently celebrated the completion of a new 450,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Texas. The company is conducting a search for the location of the new testing facility.

For more information, visit gaf.energy.