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Certification Process

VeraSol certifies pico-solar products and solar home system kits to internationally-recognized standards for product quality, durability, and truth-in-advertising.

Trusted, Independent Quality Assurance Services

Distributors, development institutions and investors around the world use VeraSol to identify and confirm the quality of pico solar products and solar home systems.

Quality Verification Process

01

Contact VeraSol

Engage with the VeraSol team to determine if your pico-solar or SHS kit is appropriate for our certification program.

VeraSol certifies pico-solar products and solar home system (SHS) kits with photovoltaic (PV) modules rated up to 350 watts. Contact our team to learn more about the testing process and determine whether your product is appropriate for certification. Read the VeraSol Program Rules for details on the primary due diligence process.

Key notes to consider:
To know the likelihood of your product meeting the quality standards you can opt to have the product tested according to the Initial Screening Method (ISM). To receive quality certification, products must be tested according to the Quality Test Method (QTM) as specified in Edition 4 of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Specification 62257-9-5, and found to meet the requirements in the quality standards. QTM tests are valid for two years from the original test report date. To maintain product certification for another two-year period, products may undergo Renewal testing according to our Policy for Renewing Test Results.

If you are interested in having multiple products tested, please review the following policies:

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02

Complete Paperwork

Work with the VeraSol team to compile the appropriate documentation for testing and evaluation.

After confirming interest in having a product tested, you will work with the VeraSol team to compile and evaluate the required company and product data and documentation.

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03

Sample and Ship Products

A third-party agent selects samples and you ship the randomly-sampled products to the lab for testing.

Random selection of the product samples undergoing QTM and Renewal testing is required. The VeraSol team arranges this process after companies complete the following steps:

  • Sign and return the VeraSol Certification Agreement
  • VeraSol will send a Random Sampling Form for you to complete. The form requests that you: (A) select a test lab, and (B) provide contact information, a physical address, and date range for sampling.

After the necessary information for sampling is received, the VeraSol team sends a sampling request with instructions to a third-party agent who will contact you to formally schedule a sampling date. The sampling agent randomly selects the required number of product samples from a specified stock number, following the procedure laid out in the Product Sampling Policy.

Once samples are selected, the company ships the samples to the selected test lab and pays all associated shipping fees, duties, and taxes.

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04

Test Products

Certified test laboratories in the VeraSol lab network test products and share results with our team for verification.

The selected test lab leads product testing

  • The lab will test the product according to the test plan that was included in the Verasol Certification Agreement with guidance from the VeraSol team. Tests are conducted according to the test methods in IEC TS 62257-9-5.
  • Once testing is complete, the lab will send a draft test report to the VeraSol team for review.

Test report review led by VeraSol team

  • VeraSol reviews the test report and determines whether the product meets the quality standards.
  • VeraSol verifies that all fees have been paid to the test lab and VeraSol before issuing official results to the company.
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05

Receive Results

Receive detailed test results with product benchmarking data and instructions for how to work with VeraSol to bring your product into compliance if your product initially fails certification.

After the test report review is complete, VeraSol provides the test results and a detailed explanation of whether the product meets the quality standards.

  • PASS: If a product(s) DO meet the quality standards, VeraSol issues a Specification Sheet and VeraSol Certificate to the company.
  • CONDITIONAL PASS: When a product(s) do NOT FULLY meet the quality standards and the issue can be addressed without retesting, a conditional pass gives companies the opportunity to make required changes to the packaging or documentation to meet the quality standards. Read our Conditional Pass Policy.
  • FAIL: If a product(s) do NOT meet the quality standards, VeraSol informs the company that the product did not pass and describes the main points of failure in a feedback letter explaining the test results and suggested next steps. Partial re-testing of improved products is often an option.
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06

Public Product Listing

Your product is featured on VeraSol’s Product Database, a tool that distributors, development institutions, investors, and others use to confirm third-party certification.

If your product meets the Quality Standards, it will be featured on the VeraSol Product Database with its Specification Sheet and VeraSol Certificate.

Test results are valid for two years. During that time, the product may be subject to Market Check Testing.

During the two-year validity of test results, companies may make ongoing, incremental changes to their product(s). Companies must inform the VeraSol team when these occur. If the changes to performance are small, no further testing will be required to maintain certification. Large changes (generally, greater than 10% difference in performance) may require targeted re-testing. After two years, products may undergo Renewal Testing.

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Other Testing Processes

Accordion icon initial screening
Initial Screening Method (ISM)

Optional and abbreviated test method that can offer key feedback to product designers, manufacturers, and brand owners and indicate whether the product is likely to meet the Quality Standards.

Accelerated Verification Method (AVM) - COMING SOON

Optional and faster alternative to Quality Test Method (QTM) testing. Companies must meet certain eligibility criteria.

Renewal Testing

Used to maintain a product’s certification status. To be performed within two years after meeting the Quality Standards.

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Market Check Method (MCM)

Performed on certified products at VeraSol’s discretion. Samples are collected from the marketplace. This process ensures that the quality of products sold in the market matches what was measured at initial quality certification testing. Initial MCM testing is paid for by VeraSol. If product fails initial MCM, companies can submit the product for retesting at their own expense within a reasonable time frame.

Market Check Testing Policy
Pay-as-you-go Energy Systems (PAYG)

PAYG-enabled systems should meet the same requirements as standard systems. To understand how certain requirements in the Quality Standards apply to PAYG systems, please read our policy on Quality Assurance for Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) Energy Systems.

PAYG Policy
Pay-as-you-go Market Check Test (PAYG – MCT) Method

The PAYG – MCT method is used to confirm basic PAYG functionality of solar energy kits sold in the market if concerns arise regarding the function of a product’s PAYG system. The procedure tests features specific to the PAYG system that are only functional in the intended location of use, and could not be tested during a typical Market Check Test.

Pay-as-you-go Market Check Test
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Pricing

VeraSol offers providers of solar energy kits high-quality certification services at a competitive rate.

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Policies and Resources

VeraSol maintains a set of policies that govern how the certification process is implemented. These describe what is expected of companies submitting products for certification and what they can expect from the VeraSol team. The policies cover the entire process ranging from sampling for testing to guidance on renewing a product’s certification status.

Manufacturers new to the certification program are advised to read through our program rules and procedures, which outline the screening procedure used to assess a manufacturer's eligibility for the certification program.

Other Program Policies