Solar Standards and Certification

Harmonizing - at international level - testing standards and certification schemes makes it possible to:

save very significant resources for product testing and certification
increase product quality

We have international standards for testing of solar thermal systems and components. The tasks/challenges are here:

continuous updating and adaption to new technology, products and requirements
promoting use of the standards

We have some well-established national/regional certification schemes. The tasks/challenges are here:

harmonizing existing certification schemes
establish new certification schemes where needed

Task 57 is Supporting Harmonized Standardization and Certification.

The Global Solar Certification Network has been implemented and is now in operation making it possible to avoid re-testing and re-inspection.

ISO standards have been promoted and new standard proposals are presented.

You will find detailed guidelines for the use of the new collector standard and basic guidance in establishing new certification schemes (at different levels).

Task 57 Summary Presentation

Task Information

DURATION
January 2016 — December 2018

OPERATING AGENT
Mr. Jan Erik Nielsen
DENMARK
454.646.1229
jen@solarkey.dk

What's New

On-site collector testing: new standard in development - Once a large solar field is set up at its designated location, what tests can be conducted to show that it performs as expected? Soon, the IEA Solar Heating & Cooling Programme may have an answer to this question, as it is working on internationalising Denmark’s testing procedure. (Posted: 2018-06-06)
Global certification saves money and time - To enter new markets, solar thermal collector manufacturers need to have their products tested and certified as meeting local standards. Thanks to GSCN, the Global Solar Certification Network, they can complete several certification processes with only one test cycle. “A collector manufacturer can save a lot of time and money because its collector test report from one region will be accepted to receive a certificate in another region,” GSCN Manager Jan Erik Nielsen from Denmark said in an interview with solarthermalworld.org. (Posted: 2018-01-18)
Global Solar Certification Network: Facilitating International High-Quality Collector Trade - The recent approval of Working Rules means that the Global Solar Certification Network (GSCN) can now accept membership applications. The reuse of test and inspection reports in different certification schemes will be possible at the beginning of 2017. (Posted: 2016-11-29)