Benefits

The benefits of a PowerMark Certification:

1. Comparable module power ratings.
2. Added value by independent part verification of product quality.
3. PV systems have a high up front capital cost. Systems may have to operate for man years in order to provide a return on the investment.
4. Are often deployed at remote sites where little or no maintenance is available.
5. Are often used to power critical loads that are work much more than the PV itself.
6. Are often financed by governments, grants, and loans, or with bank mortgages, which require a great degree of assurance that the system will work as intended.

Reciprocity

Any certification testing in these laboratories have full reciprocity and need not be tested.

• JRC ISPRA, Italy
• TUV, Munich Germany

Quality

PowerMark Certification assures that the highest standards of quality are met. Manufacturers' facilities are required to conform to ISO 9000 series quality standards including specific elements for the manufacture of PV products. Laboratories are required to be accredited to ISO Guide 17025 for the specific tests they conduct. And PV modules must meet the power output requirements stated by the manufacturer.

Why should I want to do this?

Is a system of certification and qualification going to be unnecessarily expensive? The answer to this is "No" is should not be. In reality it should save money for both the PV industry and its customers because:

1. Every PV system that does not meet specifications and the customer's expectations costs both the customer and the PV industry. Their costs may include loss of future business for the seller and the entire PV industry.
2. Today some large customers require the PV manufacturer to implement such a system for their particular job. They require product qualification and do their own review of the manufacturer's quality system. This results in higher costs on both sides. The customer is paying all of the costs for qualification testing an a quality system review. The manufacturer has to go through qualification testing and the review for each customer.
3. Today PV component manufacturers have to meet multiple standards and may have to pay for qualification testing at a number of different laboratories. International accepted certification systems are an economic benefit to the PV industry.