The Transition at a Glance

As a global quality assurance program for off-grid solar products, VeraSol has been instrumental in strengthening product quality, enhancing transparency, and building consumer trust across the sector. This work has helped over 100 million people gain access to modern energy solutions. As the market grows and diversifies, VeraSol is evolving its certification model to better meet sector needs, enhancing financial sustainability, and continue to deliver high-impact quality assurance services.

Now entering a new phase of evolution, we are moving toward a decentralized, sector-driven, and scalable certification model. Building on over a decade of hands-on experience managing a global certification program, VeraSol is transitioning the product certification operations from a donor-led initiative to a sector-driven model. In this next chapter, commercial partners will take on a larger role in delivering product certification services for solar energy kits (SEKs) and, increasingly, for productive use of renewable energy (PURE) technologies. Meanwhile, VeraSol will provide oversight to ensure the process continues to uphold the program’s high standards for technical rigor and consumer protection.

What will change? 

Today, while partner laboratories carry out product testing on a commercial basis,  VeraSol centrally manages all other aspects of the certification process for SEKs—from initial engagement and test planning to compliance review and publication. In the new model:

• Commercial partners will lead activities like client engagement, test planning, sampling coordination, and issuing both test and compliance reports.

• VeraSol will retain a critical oversight function, including conducting due diligence on the certification process, maintaining the certified product database, and ensuring the integrity of results.

• VeraSol will apply the new certification operational model to certify PURE applications, such as solar water pumps and refrigerators.

• This transition will roll out gradually. In 2025, we will complete stakeholder consultations and confirm commercial partners. By 2026, we plan to begin onboarding and providing training to commercial partners and issuing certifications under the new model in the second half of 2026. VeraSol will remain deeply involved in training and capacity-building to support a smooth transition.

 What will stay the same? 

• VeraSol continues maintaining IEC test methods and quality standards for solar energy kits, and developing new test methods and quality standards for PURE technologies.
• VeraSol continues to host the centralized VeraSol Product Database, serving as a global public good, as funding permits

• VeraSol remains a resource for governments and development partners in adopting quality assurance best practices into policies and programs

What are the implications for stakeholders? 

• Under the current model, many aspects of the certification process are supported by donor funding. As we transition to a more commercially driven model, companies seeking certification will need to shoulder a greater share of the costs than they have historically.

• To help offset this cost increase, we will pursue funding from other sector stakeholders who benefit from VeraSol certification, such as development programs that use it as an eligibility requirement, and explore creative mechanisms to continue supporting companies through the transition.

• Sustained donor investment will still be essential to support these public-good functions, particularly in markets where quality assurance is critical but not yet self-sustaining. Without this support, services like database maintenance, test method revisions, and market surveillance could be at risk, placing more burden on governments, development programs, and end users.

• As part of this transition, VeraSol invites partners, stakeholders, and industry peers to participate in shaping the future of quality assurance. A series of stakeholder consultations and technical sessions will be held over the coming months to gather input and co-develop the next chapter of VeraSol.

VeraSol is committed to keeping this process transparent and will continue to share information as details are confirmed. For more information and to stay updated on the transition process, please visit the certification transition page on the VeraSol website or contact the team at info@verasol.org.