PV GAP News 
Published by:
Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics (PV GAP)
September 1999 Volume 2, 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; URL:http://www.pvgap.org
© PV GAP 1999
Conference:
PV GAP IMPLEMENTATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
As reported in PV GAPNews (Volume 1, No. 2), PV
GAP received a contract from the Energy and Atmosphere Programme of UNDP to develop:
a) a Manual for small PV businesses to help them to implement a quality manufacturing
system based on the ISO 9000 standard; and
b) a Manual for PV testing laboratories based on the ISO/IEC Guide 25.
As it was reported, the development of these Manual(s) for PV GAP was carried out by the Institute for Sustainable Power (ISP) of Colorado.
In order to achieve the best and most useful Manuals for the PV Industry, the draft Manuals were sent for review and comment to close to 100 experts in the field of PV as well as to the Quality Assessment (IECQ) Community.
During May 3-4, 1999, PV GAP held a PV Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, sponsored by the Swiss Government and by the Joyce Mertz-Gilmore Foundation of New York. The purpose of the Conference was to review the many comments received and to reach a consensus as to the exact content of the Manual(s) and their usefulness for the PV Industry. The Conference was very well attended. Delegates from 18 countries, of which 10 were Developing World Countries, reached a consensus that the Manuals, (with recommended changes and additions), would provide extremely useful tools to enhance the quality of PV manufacturing worldwide.
The Manuals will be available from PV GAP by the end of 1999.
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Training Courses:
THE WORLD BANK AND PV GAP COOPERATIVE
PROGRAM
The World Bank (with PV GAP as the key counterpart organization) has received financial assistance from the Government of The Netherlands to take a decisive step forward to implement quality in PV products and systems globally, by development of training manuals and organizing training courses for PV manufacturers, testing laboratories, design improvement advisors, and installers.
There are four training courses planned:
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PV quality manufacturing management
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PV testing laboratory quality management
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PV installers accreditation process
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Design improvements to improve PV quality.
The Training Manuals required to conduct the Training Courses for a) and b) are based on the Manuals developed by PV GAP under the UNDP contract. A PV GAP team is responsible for writing the Training Manual for PV Manufacturers. The Training Manual for Testing Laboratories is being developed by the Florida Solar Energy Center. ISP is responsible for the Training Manual for installers. ECN of the Netherlands is preparing the Training for Design Improvements to improve quality. Peer reviewers are reviewing the four Training Manuals which will be tested during a Pilot training course in India to take place between October 5 and 17, 1999. The purpose of the Pilot Training course is to obtain field comments from participants and reviewers so as to refine the effectiveness of the Manuals and the accompanying Training Courses. Additional Training Courses are planned; one will be in China. It is expected, that when those courses are completed a consensus will be developed for the most effective ways to introduce and maintain quality in PV.
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JOHN C. BONDA (April 19, 1999)
With the death of John Bonda, the world PV community has lost a prime friend and valuable spokesperson. Active in PV since 1982, John became Secretary General of EPIA in 1986. He was a driving force in the creation of PV GAP and a Board Member since its inception. John Understood the need for a unified global approach to promote PV. His enthusiasm and unique ability to network disparate players, from installers to Ministers, helped further knowledge and support for PV all over the world. PV GAP and the world PV community mourn his premature passing.
One personal note, John was my good and dear friend. I will miss his advice,
encouragement, joie de vivre and unfailing sense of humor.
P.V.
NEW PV GAP BOARD MEMBERS
According to the Statutes (Article 8.1) of PV GAP, the Chairman appointed the following two Board Members:
On the recommendation of the President of EPIA Mr. Russell Schmit (Photowatt) was appointed to replace Mr. John Bonda.
Prof. Robert Hill resigned from the PV GAP Board because of his duties in a new assignment. His recommended successor, Mr. Bernard McNelis (IT Power) has been appointed to the PV GAP Board.
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NEW PV STANDARDSPVRS 2 (PV GAP Recommended Standard) The Qualification Approval specification for crystalline terrestrial PV modules was issued in December 1998. It was submitted to IEC TC 82. IEC TC 82 has accepted it as a New Work Item.
PVRS 3 The Qualification Approval specification for thin film terrestrial PV modules was accepted by the PV GAP Standards Committee and also by the PV GAP Board. It was issued in July 1999.
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HARMONIZATION OF PV STANDARDS
During the May 5, 1999, PV GAP Board meeting, Dr. A. Cabraal (World Bank) emphasized the need to review National Standards and harmonize them with the international (IEC or PV GAP) standards. He also recommended that if a National Standard does not have a counterpart international standard, steps should be taken to make these international.
Both these issues are critical. A global PV Standard system requires harmonization of standards and/or global recognition of excellent National standards.
Two major steps have been taken in this direction:
1) As a test case, the World Bank sponsored the harmonization of Chinese PV standards. Chinese PV standards were selected, given the World Bank's assistance to a major PV project in China (see: http://setc-newenergy.org.cn). This test case seeks to answer questions such as : Do the Chinese standards meet the necessary requirements of existing IEC standards? If not, what are the differences and how can these be harmonized with existing IEC standards? Further, in the absence of IEC standards , what Chinese Standards are suitable for adoption as PV GAP Recommended Standards and ultimately as a basis for developing an IEC TC 82 Standard? This work is headed by Mr. Steve Chalmers (PV GAP Advisory Board Member and Assistant Secretary of IEC TC 82). Completion is planned for the first quarter of 2000.
2) IECQ accepts only the IEC Standards. In the absence of an IEC Standard, IECQ will now accept the PV GAP Recommended Standard. IECQ will also consult with PV GAP before accepting any PV specification that has not originated from IEC or PV GAP.
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PV GAP ASKED IECQ TO MAKE THE IECQ SYSTEM MORE SUITABLE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
During the meeting of the IECQ, on May 17-20, 1999, the existing Basic Rules and Rules of Procedure pertaining to participation in, and access to, the IECQ were examined in the context of a PV GAP request.
The body of rules is now intended to cater for all foreseeable situations concerning manufacturers and testing laboratories, to ensure that wherever they are located. they can access IECQ.
In order to facilitate easier access to the IECQ system, a new category of membership: "Associate Member IECQ" was considered by the IECQ Officers.
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PV GAP'S WEB SITE (WWW.PVGAP.ORG)
PV GAP's WEB site has proved the existence of a worldwide interest in PV and PV quality. More than 10,000 visitors from many countries of the world viewed the site within the past year. This number is at least 5 times more than attendance at the largest PV Conference! The PV GAP Board has decided to use the PV GAP Web Site to introduce PV GAP-approved PV manufacturers and PV testing laboratories and to connect this introduction to web sites for manufacturers and testing laboratories’ web site. It is planned that this will be instituted by the end of 1999.
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IECQ UPGRADES ITS REGISTER OF APPROVALS AND GUARANTEES CLIENT VISIBILITYIECQ has seized a golden opportunity to make its 134 page international Register of Approvals in electronic as well as hard copy versions. The electronic version of the Register will be available in January 2000 on the IECQ website www.iecq.org, with direct links to all of the clients' web sites.