ABGD launches program for certification of PV devices and equipment

A ABGD (Brazilian Association of Distributed Generation) launched, during InterSolar South America 2022, its Sector Quality Program (PSQ).

The initiative, which will be managed by the Totum Institute, will evaluate solar energy devices and equipment and will aim to certify their efficiency and safety.

“The PSQ will contribute to ensuring the quality of solar devices and equipment that are used for distributed energy generation. It is a self-regulation tool, which will help ensure fair competition between brands and generate trust for the consumer”, said Guilherme Chrispim, president of ABGD.

According to the association, initially, participation in the program will be voluntary, even if the manufacturer is not associated with ABGD. The first items tested will be the inverters.

Next, the PSQ will test the modules, cables and wires that make up the photovoltaic system. At the end of the process, notes will be generated for each manufacturer, as well as a quality seal.

According to Fernando Lopes, director of the Totum Institute, the objective is to evaluate critical products in the production chain. “It is a seal of quality, which will reflect a star rating for each product. This classification will be linked to requirements such as functionality, performance and security”, he clarified.

The program will also count on the contribution of UFSM (Federal University of Santa Maria), which will provide laboratory space at the Institute of Smart Networks for testing devices and equipment. In total, five categories will be evaluated: reliability, performance, functionality, security and support.

The certification granted will be valid for 24 months and will follow governance similar to product certification, guaranteeing appeal procedures. Regarding the dissemination of results, communication will be made through the ABGD and Instituto Totum websites.