Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics

Press Release: January 27th, 2006.

BP Solar licensed by the Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics

BP Solar, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar cells, modules and systems, has fulfilled all the requirements to be licensed by the Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics (PV GAP) (www.pvgap.org) to display the PV Quality Mark on 10 high power crystalline PV modules of above 150 W. The license to display the PV Quality Mark has been granted to all BP Solar´s factories world wide.

To obtain the license to display the PV Quality Mark on products it is required that the manufacturer must hold an IECEE (IEC System for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment) Conformity Assessment Certificate. This certificate takes into account the manufacturer’s ISO 9001 or similar Quality Management System (QMS) certification, received by BP Solar from Underwriters Laboratories Inc, Northbrook, USA. It also takes into account that the PV modules were successfully tested according to an applicable International Standard (IEC 61215) by an accredited PV testing laboratory (in this case Arizona State University PV Testing Laboratory). The license was issued through PV GAP’s USA affiliate PowerMark Corporation (www.powermark.org).

"The PV GAP mark is particularly important in developing nations with vast un-electrified rural populations and emerging PV industry suppliers, especially given the current business climate in PV." Says Ed LaCroix, Strategic Marketing Manager of BP Solar.

By obtaining the license to display the PV Quality Mark on its PV modules, BP Solar demonstrated that its products are able to fulfill the state of the art highest quality requirements and differentiate them from those of other producers not displaying the signifying mark of excellence. The visual recognition of the PV Quality Mark signals and simplifies for consumers the selection of quality products.

Ed LaCroix, continues: "For BP Solar this is all about the customer. PV customers need assurance that they are purchasing products that meet internationally accepted quality standards, and as an industry we are obliged to make this as simple and easy to understand as possible. The PV GAP mark distinctly certifies PV products and systems as such, and provides the customer confidence they have made the correct purchase decision."

The Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics (PV GAP ) is a worldwide organization created on the initiative of the PV industry associations, research and development bodies, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program. The PV GAP 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.
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BP SOLAR (www.bpsolar.com), manufactures, designs, markets and installs quality solar electric systems for a wide range of applications in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 30 years of experience and installations in over 160 countries, BP Solar is one of the world´s largest solar companies and has manufacturing facilities in the US, Spain, India and Australia. BP Solar is part of BP one of the world´s leading energy companies.

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.

For further information please contact:

PV GAP(www.pvgap.org): Mr. Richard Kay (rk@iec.ch)
IECEE (www.iecee.org): Mr Pierre de Ruvo (pro@iec.ch)
BP Solar (www.bpsolar.com): Mrs. Anna Rivers-Moore (anna.rivers-moore@ec1.bp.com)
PowerMark (www.powermark.org): Mr. Steve Chalmers (stevechalm@aol.com)