GLOBAL APPROVAL PROGRAM FOR PHOTOVOLTAICS

Photovoltaics (PV) is now widely used to convert light into electricity. Practically all satellites in orbit are powered by PV and in the past 25 years PV has also been successfully used for terrestrial applications. PV has proved to be one of the most reliable sources of electricity. PV modules now come with a 20 years' warranty. However, over the years, inconsistencies have been noted in the quality of PV components, systems, installations, and after-sales maintenance, especially in off-grid, rural electrification programs.

Much of this problem is due to a lack of standards for PV quality. PV at present has very few product standards, and no systems standards exist. This means that manufacturers, especially in developing countries, have no guidelines on how to produce reliable products. Furthermore, the lack of accredited testing laboratories (there are currently only some eight in the entire world) makes testing difficult for manufacturers especially those in developing countries. It has also become evident that a “ PV Quality Mark” is needed to identify properly designed and manufactured PV components, tested according to internationally accepted PV standards, and a “ PV Quality Seal” for PV systems.

The worldwide PV community, including national and regional PV industry associations, supported by international institutions such as The World Bank and the UNDP, decided to institute a high-priority program to remedy the situation and to assure PV quality globally. In order to achieve the goal and to guide the PV industry especially in developing countries the following steps were taken: ·

• PV GAP was organized in Geneva, Switzerland, as a not-for-profit organization under the initiative of the global PV industry
  

• PV GAP's mission was identified: The Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics (PV GAP), a not-for-profit international organization, is dedicated to the sustained growth of global photovoltaics (PV) markets to meet energy needs world-wide in an environmentally sound manner. Our mission is to promote and encourage the use of internationally accepted standards, quality management processes and organizational training in the design, fabrication, installation, sales and services of PV systems. To this end, we partner with PV and related industries, international organizations, testing laboratories, government agencies, financing institutions, non-governmental organizations, and private foundations, in developing and developed countries.
  

• APPROVAL/CERTIFICATION PROGRAM: A PV GAP program was set up, administered by the International Electrotechnical Commission's System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment (IECEE).
  

• PV QUALITY MARK AND SEAL: a PV Quality Mark was established for PV components and a PV Quality Seal was established for systems. The Mark and Seal are licensed to those companies and products which achieve approval under the PV GAP Program. The annual license fee currently ranges from $250 for a yearly PV facility revenue of up to $1 million, to $ 3000 for a revenue greater than $100 million.

PV GAP set itself the following tasks:

• GLOBALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS FOR PV : promote the global acceptance of the International Electrotechnical Commission's ( IEC) standards; and, when one does not exist for PV components or systems, to develop urgently PV Recommended Specifications (PVRS) by reviewing and utilizing existing national or regional standards or creating new ones. Subsequently these PVRSs are submitted to IEC TC 82 or IECEE, as appropriate.
  

• GLOBALLY ACCEPTED TESTING LABORATORIES : develop a list of acceptable testing laboratories worldwide, including those in the developing countries. An important goal is to achieve global acceptance of reciprocity.
  

• GLOBALLY ACCEPTED REFERENCE MANUAL : while there are many national and regional Handbooks in existence, it is essential to have one globally accepted Reference Manual for PV manufacturers. The first edition of the Reference Manual was published in 1998.

While PV GAP was initiated by the PV industry in Europe, Japan and USA, the support base for the Program has widened to include international organizations, private foundations, government organizations and other stakeholders. The Program has extended implementation to other countries such as Argentina, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa.