Inconsistencies in performance reporting and a lack of reliable data make it difficult for buyers to identify high-performing products such as TVs and fans. Coupling this with the fact that appliances are a significant cost for most off-grid consumers, ensuring that products are high-quality and perform as expected is crucial.

To help market actors evaluate and compare the quality of different products, VeraSol collaborated with Efficiency for Access to pilot a quality assurance (QA) framework for standalone off-grid TVs and fans. Building on the appliance testing and data-sharing process of Equip Data, VeraSol and Efficiency for Access developed a set of quality criteria, evaluated products using the quality criteria, and shared findings and data with stakeholders to promote quality products.

VeraSol and Efficiency for Access have published the draft quality criteria and key learnings from testing and evaluating off-grid TVs and fans in a new learning paper, which provides recommendations for future QA efforts. The paper aims to help the off-grid solar sector standardize test methods and performance reporting and enable market actors across the value chain to make faster, more informed decisions about off-grid products.

Read the learning paper.