The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers have developed a machine that mimics years of outdoor wind exposure on solar panels in hours or days. The device uses speakers to drive pressure cycles informed by computer simulations of wind in real power plants. This equipment runs a million realistic pressure cycles per day to accelerate reliability testing processes effectively. Researchers like Tim study how solar panels wear out and break down under external conditions systematically. The testing reveals long-term effects of tiny invisible cracks that accumulate into significant damage over time. Accelerated testing helps panel manufacturers understand stresses for designing more durable materials accordingly. NREL operates under US Department of Energy Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 as the National Laboratory of the Rockies.