Intertek strengthens partnership with Photovoltaic Institute Berlin - Assisting non-European PV product access to European market and subsidies

06 Jun 2011

Stuttgart, Germany/Shanghai, China – Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a range of industries worldwide, today announced a new partnership with Photovoltaic Institute Berlin (PI Berlin), a leading European player in the Renewable Energies market segment. Photovoltaic Institute Berlin will partner with Intertek to provide non-European PV modules with smooth market access to Europe through Intertek's CB certificate and PI Berlin's bankability test.

Companies that wish to sell PV modules in Europe need to have those products declared as conforming to relevant standards. In addition, companies that wish to achieve subsidies from banks and governments need to establish their 'bankability'. The joint-service will enable offshore companies to gain local-market certification and bankability assessment together. It will make their entry into the European market smoother and more efficient and at the same time commence the subsidies process without compromising the test lead time. PI Berlin provides bankability assessments for European and non-European renewable product companies, which assessments are recognized and utilized by banks and subsidizing organizations across Europe. This covers the most important facts for the bankability of non-European PV modules – means fundamental technical milestones for a safe and fast market entry of the PV components to the European markets, e.g. sustainability, over-all quality, stability and efficiency of modules and components.

Intertek offers fast, expert testing and certification for AC Modules, Photovoltaic (PV) Modules, Charge Controllers, PV Power Units, Inverters, Converters, Accessories and Components around the world. And its state-of-the-art Photovoltaic (PV) testing and certification centers in Asia and the Americas enable module manufacturers to meet growing demand, get products to market faster, and provide critical performance data to support competitive differentiation. Intertek is accredited by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as a Nationally Recognized Laboratory (NRTL).

PI Berlin is an official IEC/ISO 17025 testing laboratory for the PV industry and is accredited as CBTL for IEC/EN/ISO 61215, 61646, 61730 and all related standards as well as for CEC regulations and UL1703.

"To enhance the existing strategic partnership and good relation with PI Berlin, we suppose to utilize Intertek's PV module CB test labs in PV modules manufacturing site, e.g. China, the U.S. etc and PI Berlin's trusted expertise to facilitate good quality PV modules to be installed in Germany and Europe," said Joachim Ihrke, Director Commercial & Electrical Germany, France and Italy at Intertek.

Intertek and its partners will be present at Intersolar, the world's largest solar technology trade fair, held in Munich (Germany), June 8-10, 2011.
Intertek: hall A3 / booth 114
PI Berlin: hall B6 / booth 177

Contacts

For further information, please contact
Rhett Wang, Energy & Environment Business Regional Director, Intertek
Telephone: +8621 6127 8288
rhett.wang@intertek.com

Martin Winterling, Business Development Safety, Intertek Commercial & Electrical Germany
Telephone: +49 611 97385-31
martin.winterling@intertek.com

About Intertek

Intertek is a leading global provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and 30,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world. For further information please visit www.intertek.com

About Intertek's testing and certification services

Intertek provides testing and certification services, including product safety testing and certification, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, performance testing, and management systems certification. These services provide global market access to customers in industries such as wind, solar, automotive, cables and wiring accessories, electronics, household appliances, IT, industrial machinery, medical devices, telecommunications, and wireless technology. Visit www.intertek-etlsemko.com for further information or to contact your local Intertek office.

About PI Berlin

Photovoltaik Institut Berlin AG (PI Berlin) has received accreditation as an official ISO/IEC 17025 testing laboratory for the photovoltaics (PV) industry. Widely recognized in Europe for its reliability testing and engineering analysis, the independent firm is expanding to meet the growing demand of the U.S. and Asian market. Founded in 2006, PI Berlin has become a valued resources for the global solar market, offering testing analysis, consulting services and original research. For further information, visit www.pi-berlin.com