- South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has partnered with BravoScan to compliment its PV GreenCard programme.
- BravoScan are an authorized inspection authority, duly appointed in terms of Regulation 3 of the Electrical Installation Regulations with a specific mandate to inspect and report on electrical installation regulations to the Department of Labour.
The partnership with BravoScan is aimed at improving the standard with which SAPVIA oversees the activities of its PV GreenCard-accredited companies. As a quality assurance partner, BravoScan will conduct post-installation inspections by companies registered as PV GreenCard holders which includes inspection services for a dispute-resolution process between a client and installer, where SAPVIA is the facilitator.
BravoScan will also ensure the credibility of the PV GreenCard training programme by monitoring the PV GreenCard training and assessment centres to ensure compliance.
The PV GreenCard is an as built report for the Solar PV system owner and a checklist for the installer which qualified installers provide to their clients on the completion of a project. The PV GreenCard contains details of the installation such as, what sort of PV modules and PV inverters were used, as well a checklist of all the necessary installation steps that were completed. The installer can use the PV GreenCard to declare compliance with relevant standards as well as safety guidelines for PV installation.
The PV GreenCard initiative is voluntary and has seen limited uptake amongst solar PV installers across the country.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is a regulatory authority established as a juristic person in terms of Section 3 of the National Energy Regulator Act, 2004 (Act No. 40 of 2004), for the solar PV industry in South Africa.
The South African National Standard (SANS), formulated by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), provides the minimum standards for residential, industrial and commercial solar PV installations in the country.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
