IEA-SHC Task 43 Operating Agent

The objective is to continue the IEA-SHC Task 43 on "Solar Rating and Certification" under Danish

leadership - focusing on establishing a global certification scheme for solar collectors.

The quite remarkable results and outcome of the task so far are:

• Re-initiating the work of the ISO Technical Committee on Solar Thermal Energy (ISO/TC 180)

• Agreement between ISO/TC 180 and CEN/TC 312 to work towards a common EN/ISO on test methods

for solar collectors

• Significant improvements/extensions in test methods for solar collectors

• Evaluation of test methods and test labs in Europe and USA/Canada

• Elaboration of new draft EN/ISO standard for collector testing (ISO/DIS 9806)

• Initiating discussion on a global certification scheme for solar collectors

There is an interest in the industry and in the IEA-SHC ExCo to follow up on these nice results and to try

to establish a worldwide certification scheme for solar collectors (IEA-SHC ExCo has asked Denmark (Jan

Erik Nielsen)) to work out a work plan for this until their next meeting in November 2012).

The common EN/ISO standard for collector test methods are expected approved next year; this standard

will be a very good basis for establishing the “global collector certification scheme”.

Having such global certification scheme will increase quality and remove trade barriers and hence

assist/accelerate the trend towards better and cheaper solar collectors world wide.

The task was originally initiated and lead by US, but they have now stopped funding of their project

manager/operating agent.