PV GAP News

June 1998 Volume 1, No. 1

PV GAP Secretariat; c/o IEC Central Office
3 rue de Varembé; Box 131
CH-1211 Geneva 20 - SWITZERLAND
Tel.: 41 22 919 0216 - Fax: 41 22 919 0300
E-mail: rk@iec.ch

© PV GAP 1998

PV GAP REGISTERED IN SWITZERLAND
RECEIVED TAX FREE STATUS

The Statutes and Bye-Laws of the Global Approval Program for PV (PV GAP) were submitted to the Republic and Canton of Geneva with the request that it should be approved and granted a tax-free status. The petition was supported also by the Swiss Federal Government.

In December 1997 the Republic and Canton of Geneva notified PV GAP that its tax-free status was approved for the next five years. Subsequently, PV GAP was registered in Switzerland.

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PV GAP'S "PV Quality Mark and Seal"
PV GAP's Board established and registered a "PV Quality Mark for PV Components" and a "PV Quality Seal for PV Systems." The PV Quality Mark and Seal will be licensed to Companies approved against the established PV GAP system. The approval process and the licensing of the PV GAP PV Quality Mark and Seal are described in the PV GAP Reference Manual (See below).

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IECQ'S AGREEMENT WITH PV GAP
A letter of intent was signed between PV GAP and the International Electrotechnical Commission's Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components (IECQ) in 1997. The IECQ's activities in this field are part of its normal work and are not, therefore, a charge to PV GAP. PV GAP, cooperating with IECQ, adopted a globally accepted approval process, and the cooperation with the PV industry is, in fact, making IECQ more widely known.

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GLOBAL IMPLEMENTATION OF PV GAP
The IECQ is providing the approval services for PV GAP and has already lined up four of its National Supervising Inspectorates (NSIs) to approve PV components. The IECQ approval process includes manufacturers approval and product Qualification Approval (both described in IECQ 001002-3 1998). The needed standards are being completed (see standards).

• In the USA, the implementation meeting was held on January 15, 1998, in New Orleans. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) (Executive Director: S. Sklar) is signing the PV GAP Master License Agreement and will transfer the administration of the PV GAP program for the USA to PowerMark Corporation. PowerMark (Executive Director: S. Chalmers) is well equipped to carry out this program.

• In Europe, the implementation meeting was held on February 11, 1998, in Brussels. The European PV Industries Association (EPIA) (Secretary General: J. Bonda) is signing the PV GAP Master License Agreement and will administer the PV GAP program for Europe.

• The Japanese Representative (H. Shimizu) described that the Japan Electrical Manufacturers Association (JEMA) is involved in the country's implementation program.

• In other parts of the world, the implementation will start in countries that are initiating or have an ongoing program in PV. The World Bank and UNDP expressed interest in helping with this implementation. A proposal was submitted to The World Bank and UNDP to develop the implementation process in Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and in South Africa.

PV STANDARDS Quality approval and maintenance, the goal for PV GAP, requires standards. The IECQ system adopted by PV GAP requires certifiable standards. The certifiable standards contain not only the test requirements but also the establishment of the quality approval procedure for the component or the system. The existing IEC standards are all lacking the requisite qualification approval procedure.

The preferred standards are the IEC Standards, but in the absence of an IEC standard, an accepted consensus standard (e.g., PV GAP Recommended Standard) is also acceptable.

IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
IEC TC 82 is the technical committee responsible for international PV standards. Now chaired by Richard deBlasio, NREL, TC 82 already has some 20 basic standards for modules and related equipment to its credit and is now specifically looking at safety, quality, and certification of PV modules, balance-of-system components and complete systems. PV GAP maintains a close connection with the activity of TC 82. Many PV GAP standards committee members are active in TC 82. Dr. deBlasio is also on the Board of PV GAP.

PV GAP Recommended Standards (RS)

• PV GAP has published a first version of a PV stand-alone small home system standard in the PV GAP Reference Manual. This covers test procedures (indoor method) for components, as well as for complete systems.

• Σ A PV GAP Battery RS will be published during the 3rd quarter of 1998.

• The first qualification approval standard (Crystalline silicon terrestrial PV modules. Blank detail specification) was assembled by Richard Kay, of IECQ, with the help of John Wohlgemuth (Chair TC 82 WG2), PowerMark (USA), and JRC, Ispra (Italy). It is expected that this landmark standard will be a PV GAP RS, also during the 3rd quarter of 1998. It will also immediately become a New Work Item for TC 82 WG2. Other PV standards will be fashioned according to this standard.

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PV GAP Reference Manual Completed
Published this year, the PV GAP Reference Manual is intended to be a comprehensive working tool for everyone concerned with PV GAP's approval system. It covers many general aspects, as well as the approval process leading to the granting of the "PV Quality Mark and/or Seal." It contains all the PV GAP Recommended Standards and the list of PV-applicable IEC Standards. It provides information about approved Testing Laboratories, as well as of the NSIs. It provides a Glossary of terms and also the Statutes and Bye-Laws of PV GAP. It is available from PV GAP Secretariat for USD 170, discounted to USD 140 if ordered at the Vienna exhibition at the PV GAP Booth - Booth No. 1 (located at the exhibit entrance).

PURCHASING DISCOUNT:

20% Discount will apply to all IEC PV Standards and the PV GAP Reference Manual ordered on the PV GAP stand at the Vienna Exhibition (July 5 - 10, 1998)

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NATIONAL SUPERVISING INSPECTORATE(S) (NSIs)
Organizations selected by IECQ serve to carry out the approval process. As of now, four NSIs are approved to work in this field:
France: SNQ; Germany: VDE; India: STQC; and, USA: Underwriters Laboratories.

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TESTING LABORATORIES
Testing Laboratories either independent or on the manufacturer's premises are approved by the NSIs as part of the IECQ process. Any accreditation already held by a Laboratory may be taken into consideration.

A provisional list of Testing Laboratories is in the PV GAP Reference manual. That list is updated periodically.

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International Energy Agency (IEA) - PV GAP
During the IEA's Executive Committee Power System Programme meeting in Valencia, Spain (May 11-13, 1998), P. Varadi (Chair. PV GAP) was invited to give a presentation about PV GAP and the possible co-operation with IEA PVPS. It was decided during the meeting that Mr. E. Lysen (Chair. IEA PVPS) should explore the co-operation between the two organizations in the field of standards and implementation in Developing Countries.

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