Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics

Press Release: June 4, 1997

The Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics (PV GAP) held its third meeting in Athens, Greece, on May 8-9, 1997.

PV GAP is being incorporated in Geneva, Switzerland, as a not-for-profit organization, to fulfill the mission: "PV GAP" is a global, PV industry-driven organization that strives to promote and maintain a set of quality standards and certification procedures for the performance of PV products and systems, to ensure high quality and reliability.

PV GAP developed a PV Quality Seal and the criteria to license certified manufacturers, distributors, and installers to utilize the Seal. An agreement was made with the International Electrotechnical Commission's quality assessment program (IECQ) to perform the certification. The certification will be performed by accredited Testing Laboratories utilizing PV GAP-approved standards (IEC standards, if available).

PV GAP will be launched at the 14th European PV meeting in Barcelona, Spain, (June 30-July 4, 1997). On July 2nd, at 14:30, an open-ended session is planned to describe the PV GAP program and to obtain input from a wide audience. This session will be free and will not require registration. PV GAP's concept and organization will be discussed by Dr. P. Varadi, standards by Dr. H. Ossenbrink, testing laboratories by Dr. C. Gay, and the IECQ system and its relation to PV GAP by Mr. R. Kay (IECQ). Photovoltaic Industry Associations (Mr. Y. Baba/H. Shimizu - Japan; Mr. J. Bonda - Europe; Dr. H. Forest - USA; and representatives from developing countries) will explain the merit of the PV GAP program.

During the Barcelona meeting, PV GAP will also have a booth at the accompanying Exhibition, where information on the PV GAP program will be displayed.

Information is also available at PV GAP's Web site (http://www.pvgap.org) and from Dr. Peter F. Varadi (Tel./Fax: 1- 301-657-9110).