Solar PV Quality Assurance

The Association for Renewable Energy Practitioners is committed to:

1. A growing and changing knowledge base
2. Promoting solar installations that comply to local and international standards
3. Supporting installers committed to providing quality installations and services.
4. Providing a quality assurance programme applicable to the complete solar PV value chain

What is a Quality Assurance Platform?

A “Quality Assurance (QA)” platform aims to ensure that companies and individuals subscribing to the QA platform, do good
quality work and through this commitment quality is assured. Quality Assurance platforms provide a way for end users to feel re-
assured of the level of competence and commitment of installers who subscribe to these platforms to deliver good quality
products and services.
Ensure your installer knows what they are doing by insisting on a performance certificate or at least an AREP Level 2 test
certificate.
AREP is host to the P4 platform which tests knowledge and competence on a variety of levels. See the image below for more
information regarding the various levels.
Solar Specialist Platform P4 - Level C
The Level C test is considered to be part of the Skills Development Series of Tests.
This test is ideal for candidates interested in becoming involved in the solar PV sector with limited knowledge and experience of
electrical and or solar principles.
Electricians, engineers and experienced solar installers should start with Level 1 as the starting point.
Candidates writing the Level C test will need to have a basic understanding and knowledge of the following categories and topics:
1.  Batteries
1. Battery density
2. Battery cell construction
3. Battery safety
2. Bi-metallic corrosion
1. Basic understanding of bi-metallic corrosion
3. Electricity Basics
1. Electron flow
2. Conductor resistivity
3. Electron flow
4. Ohm’s law formula identification
5. Series and parallel connection
6. The basic differences between alternating current and direct current
7. The difference between the unit for power and energy
4. Inverters
1. Operation
2. Power Quality
3. Function
5. Irradiation
1. Intensity of sunlight
6. Solar Module technology
1. Temperature co-efficients
2. Solar module construction
3. Visual Differences between mono and poly
4. Solar water heating vs solar PV efficiencies
5. Understanding solar module data sheets
7. Standard & Regulations
1. Certificates of compliance – Authority
2. Certificates of compliance – compliance and mandate
3. Certificates of compliance – Types of installations
Solar Specialist Platform P4 Level 1
“Level 1” is a class room based solar PV test and can be taken throughout South Africa at a number of test stations, see the
calender for more detail, dates and venues. This test starts your solar journey and a lifetime of learning. This is an open book test
as it compliments a learning environment and promotes research and learning.
At “Level 1” there are 10 categories in the test
Test Categories
1. Electrical Theory
2. Irradiation
3. Efficiency
4. Module Technology
5. Handling & Transporting Modules
6. Batteries
7. Standards
8. Calculations
9. System Sizing
10. Drawings and diagrams
Principles being tested
The Questions in the test cover the following principles. Candidates writing the test with a good knowledge of the following
principles should be able to pass the test.
1. Electrical Theory
1. Measuring Current flow
2. Understanding and calculating Series and parallel
3. Data sheets descriptions
4. AC vs DC
2. Irradiation
1. The solar constant
3. Efficiency
1. Solar PV Technology vs Solar Thermal Technology
4. Module Technology
1. An understanding and knowledge of the Impact of partial shading
2. STC & NOCT
3. Understanding Data sheets
5. Handling & Transporting Modules
1. Transportation
2. Standing on modules
3. Fixing modules to mounting structures
4. Cleaning modules
6.  Batteries
1. Depth of Discharge
2. Thermally Insulating batteries
7.  Standards
1. Who can issue a Certificate of Compliance
2. Introduction to NRS standards
3. Neutral Earth Bond & Earth leakages
8.  Calculations
1. Basic Ohm’s Law
2. Basic Series and Parallel
9. System Sizing
1. Load profile
2. According to NRS
10. Drawings and diagrams
1. Follow instructions and draw a basic circuit diagram
Solar Specialist Platform P4 Level 2
Pass your “Level 1” first before attempting “Level 2”. Level 2 is more advanced than the “Level 1” test and requires a more
complex knowledge of principles and calculations.
Level 2A Test Categories
With the “Level 2” there are 12 categories in the test
1. Electrical Theory
2. Module technology
3. Irradiation
4. Surge Protection and Earthing
5. Power and Energy
6. Temperature Co-efficients
7. Mounting structures
8. Electrical Switching & Safety
9. Batteries
10. Standards & Safety
11. System Sizing
12. Drawings and diagrams
Principles being tested
The Questions in the test cover the following principles. Candidates writing the test with a good knowledge of the following
principles should be able to pass the test.
1. Electrical Theory
1. Ohm’s Law
2. Series and Parallel
3. Volt drop and Cable sizing
4. Harmonics & Power Factor
2. Module technology
1. Bi-facial, Floating
2. Poly vs Mono vs Thin-film
3. Quality – Tier 1 vs 3rd party testing
3. Irradiation
1. GHI vs DNI
4. Surge Protection and Earthing
1. Internal and External surge protection
2. Risk analysis
5. Power and Energy
1. Calculate Power requirement and Energy Requirement
6. Temperature Co-efficients
1. Aluminium, Modules and Copper
7. Mounting structures
1. Thermal Breaks and Ballasted systems
2. Glass glass vs framed modules
8. Electrical Switching & Safety
1. Fuse calculation for batteries and for PV
2. AC vs DC Switching
3. Fault current calculation
9. Batteries
1. Energy densities
2. Li-ion
3. Lead acid
10. Standards & Safety
1. Identify the correct wiring layout for a single 3kw Pure Grid tied inverter.
2. Identify the correct wiring layout for a UPS type hybrid inverter on a dedicated circuit.
3. IEC & SANS standards
4. Wind loads while working on roofs
5. Working at heights
11. System Sizing
1. Standards (NRS097 limitation)
2. Consumption profile
3. Load
12. Drawings and diagrams
1. Circuit diagrams for Single phase Grid tied system