A cornerstone to GAF Energy’s approach to delivering the best residential solar roof is partnering with the best in relevant scientific fields. Recently, we announced our partnership with Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) to rigorously test our next generation solar roof — and Sandia is the best. 

A U.S. Department of Energy research and development lab, Sandia’s mission is to secure America’s critical infrastructure and natural environment against attacks, threats, and climate change by performing world-class research and development

Sandia was established in 1945 for nuclear weapons development, testing, and assembly. Their scientists and engineers worked with NASA to support the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs in the 1960s. They designed the airbags in the Mars Pathfinder mission in 1997. Most recently, they tested three new rockets that are part of the High Operational Tempo for Hypersonics rocket program, funded by the Department of Defense. 

In the last 70 years, it’s hard to find a major research and development project related to nuclear deterrence, global security, defense, energy technologies, or economic competitiveness that wasn’t vetted by the experts at Sandia. Recently, Sandia has keenly focused on renewable energy, particularly solar, as part of the Department of Energy’s efforts to lower the cost, increase the efficiency, and further the deployment of the technology. Sandia has been heavily involved in solar research since the early 1970s, when Congress amended the Atomic Energy Act of 1971, authorizing Atomic Energy Commission research to develop “more efficient methods to meet the Nation’s energy needs”.

Sandia recently tested GAF Energy’s next generation solar roof (coming January 2022). The lab applied the most rigorous and meticulous testing to our new product to ensure the highest levels of performance.

Our president Martin Debono commented on the partnership to say: “We’re really proud that the experts at Sandia verified the strength, durability, and overall market-readiness of our next generation solar roof. What we’ve developed is a breakthrough innovation that will chart the future course of roofing in the U.S. and passing the robust tests at Sandia puts us on that path.”
Demand for solar installations is growing in the U.S. World-class product testing with teams like the ones at Sandia is critical as we expand residential solar opportunities nationwide. And as every roof becomes a solar roof.