The following conclusions appear from the first experiences just described:

1. as a basis, the manufacturer must have a quality management system complying with ISO 9001:2000, in place and operating, covering his PV component manufacturing activity and including his testing facilities, if appropriate. This makes it possible for the manufacturer to fulfil his ongoing responsibilities regarding product certification, e.g. customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, and use of any in-house testing facilities;

2. the manufacturer should be free to use any PV testing laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, and to make some or all tests in-house under SI supervision but otherwise without any onerous formal manufacturer’s laboratory approval procedure;

3. a published Blank Detail Specification (or Blank Product Quality Assessment Specification, or however called), acceptable to the PV industry and to be completed by the manufacturer, is a transparent and convenient means of making full use of the manufacturer’s data sheet and defining all of the immediate and on-going certification requirements pertaining to the relevant IEC Standard;

4. interest is being demonstrated in PV GAP’s international "PV Quality Mark", the licensing of which must be on terms acceptable to the PV industry and beneficial to PV consumers;

5. fast-track procedures are needed for preparing and amending specifications that are needed in addition to, or whilst awaiting, Standards from IEC TC 82. The PV GAP Technical Committee has so far played an essential part in this by writing the Blank Detail Specifications for IECQ. Its membership is open to all experts and not limited to countries in the IEC family.

7. TRANSITION FROM IECQ TO IECEE

Whilst the first experiences described in the present paper were being gathered, the IEC Conformity Assessment Board (CAB) decided, on a proposal originating in IEC TC 82, that certification activities concerning PV systems and components (all components, not just modules) should be dealt with under the IEC program which works in the area of certification of consumer electrical products, namely the IEC System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment (IECEE) which operates the well-known world-wide CB Scheme for Mutual Recognition of Test Certificates for Electrical Equipment. Therefore a transition from the IECQ to the IECEE is in progress.

Whilst the transition is in progress, the existing IECQ certification is unaffected, except that it now comes under the management of the IECEE instead of the IECQ.

Having in mind the conclusions reported in 7 above, it seems likely that PV will either be integrated into one of the existing IECEE Schemes or will be dealt with under a dedicated IECEE-PV Scheme. In either case the IECEE will strive to meet as far as possible the needs of all of the players in this high profile and truly world-wide field of great potential.

The authors are grateful to RWE Schott Solar and Photowatt International for their enthusiasm and co-operation in being the first manufacturers to prove the route through product certification under an IEC certification program to the goal of obtaining PV GAP’s "PV Quality Mark".

Dr Peter Varadi, Chairman of PV GAP, Mr Frank Kitzantides, Chairman of IECEE, and Mr Pierre de Ruvo, Secretary of IECEE, are all thanked for the comments they made during drafting of the paper.

The IECQ is thanked for having made possible the personal participation of one of the authors in this prestigious Conference, taking place this time in Japan.

[1] P.F. Varadi and A. Bergmann, "The cost of quality. Establishing PV quality systems", Renewable Energy World, Sept-Oct 2002, pages 76 to 89.

[2] ISO 9001:2000, "Quality management systems – Requirements".

[3] IEC 61646:1996 "Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval".

[4] IEC 61215: 1993, "Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and Type Approval".

[5] IEC 61646 DE 0001: 2002, "Detail specification for thin-film terrestrial PV modules of assessed quality".

[6] IEC 61215 FR 0001: 2003, "Detail specification for crystalline silicon terrestrial PV modules of assessed quality".

[7] ISO/IEC 17025: 1999, "General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories".