Towards Global Certification of Solar Collectors

Abstract

The EN/ISO 9806 standard for collector testing is expected published in 2013 - and could then form a basis for a global collector certification scheme. The objective is to propose a way towards global certification of solar collectors - and to make the first steps. Introducing a global certification scheme is an ambitious task. A pragmatic approach could be to work “step by step” e.g.: First investigate possibilities for harmonizing the main existing certification schemes. And then - if this shows successful - to harmonize with more existing certification schemes and implement the harmonized scheme in countries with no certification scheme. Two existing successful certification schemes are Solar Keymarki and SRCCii. Solar Keymark covers around 90% of the European solar collector market and SRCC has similar success at the North American market. Some cooperation is already taking place at testing level between the two certification schemes - giving a good basis (together with the up-coming EN/ISO standard for collector testing) for aiming at a common certification scheme. Both Solar Keymark and SRCC are already “spreading” out in neighboring regions. Similar schemes are being established in e.g. North Africa and South America. Next step could be to implement the common certification scheme in interested countries, adapting the scheme rules to new conditions if necessary.