UpdateWebinar on IEC Quality Standards for Pico-Solar & SHS KitsThe International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) will soon publish quality standards for pico-solar products and solar home system kits. These standards will replace the Lighting Global Quality Standards.To prepare for this transition, VeraSol hosted a webinar about the new IEC standards on Thursday, May 7 at 13:00 GMT. Participants learned how the IEC standards differ from the Lighting Global Quality Standards and received guidance on how public and private actors can successfully transition to using the new standards.IEC adoption of the Quality Standards opens the door to the widespread use of a proven and robust quality assurance framework for off-grid solar products that protect consumers and promote market growth, ultimately improving energy access.Achieving these benefits while avoiding negative market disruption will require a coordinated transition to the IEC standards. As Lighting Global product certifications expire, manufacturers will re-certify their products according to the new IEC standards. Governments and programs are encouraged to accept both Lighting Global quality-verified products and those that meet the IEC standards.ResourcesMay 7 presentation slides & recordingMay 7 webinar questions & answersTechnical Note 32Summary of Requirements in IEC TS 62257-9-8:2020Change Log for Quality StandardsMore Articles ECOWAS Adopts New Regional Quality Standard for Solar Energy KitsOn March 30th, the Industry Ministers of ECOWAS approved a new regional quality standard for solar energy kits up to 350 watts, which aligns with the IEC TS 62257-9-8 standard for VeraSol certification. This new standard is expected to improve the quality of solar energy products and increase energy access across all 15 ECOWAS member states. Learn More VeraSol Stakeholder Survey Reveals Pandemic Challenges, New Opportunities for CertificationIn 2022, VeraSol surveyed stakeholders and partners to gauge how VeraSol's quality assurance services are used and what our team can improve. Read on to find out the key insights from the manufacturer's responses. Learn More Request Free Copies of IEC TS 62257-9-8 and IEC TS 62257-9-5 in Chinese-LanguageLimited free copies of the Chinese-language versions of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) IEC TS 62257-9-8 and IEC TS 62257-9-5 are available. Learn More