SunSpec Alliance, the information standards and certification organization for the Distributed Energy Resource (DER) industry, announced the first SunSpec Authorized Test Laboratory (ATL) partners to provide SunSpec Certified testing services to a global roster of SunSpec Alliance member companies. Those test partners include UL; Kyrio, a subsidiary of CableLabs; SGS; PCTEST Engineering Laboratory; Intertek; CSA Group and TUV Rheinland of North America.
The SunSpec Certified program culminates 10 years of developing de facto standards that enable solar PV and energy storage systems to interoperate transparently with system components, software applications, financial systems and the smart grid. The program provides DER interoperability, data communications and cybersecurity functionality standards, aligned with international and national protocols, to accelerate industry growth, lower costs and enhance customer confidence.
Initial DER communication compliance programs addressed by SunSpec ATLs include Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standard (IEEE) 2030.5TM / Common Smart Inverter Profile (CSIP), the default communication standard for California Rule 2, and SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown, a de facto standard to achieve compliance with the PV hazard control requirements of the 2017 National Electrical Code.
The testing laboratories now part of the SunSpec ecosystem offer diverse skills to successfully fulfill interoperability, data communications and cybersecurity testing services and include both Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NTRLs) and high-volume communication specialists. They meet the requirements outlined in the SunSpec Request for Proposal open program to deliver high-quality communication protocol compliance testing services.
SunSpec Certified Authorized Test Laboratories announced to date include:
• UL – https://www.ul.com/
• Kyrio – https://kyrio.com/sunspec-alliance-certification
• SGS – https://www.sgs.com/
• PCTEST Engineering Laboratory – http://www.pctest.com/
• Intertek – https://www.intertek.com/energy/testing/inverter-and-converter/
• CSA Group – https://www.csagroup.org/
• TUV Rheinland of North America – www.tuv.com/solar
SunSpec recently upgraded its SunSpec Certified program to fulfill its responsibilities as the compliance authority for California Rule 21 communication requirements (SunSpec test criteria is specifically referenced in CA Rule 21) and to realize the success of the SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown standard, which has been adopted by more than 50 semiconductor, PV module and inverter manufacturers.
“Communication-oriented markets leverage certification programs to foster growth, increase stakeholder confidence and lower total system costs. The SunSpec Certified program employs best practices proven by other industries,” said Tom Tansy, chairman of the SunSpec Alliance. “SunSpec Authorized Test Laboratories provide impartiality and broad market availability of test services for dominant DER communication standards. As solar, storage and other DER systems proliferate on the grid, interoperability requirements make the SunSpec certification program more important than ever to deliver on the vision of California and the nation for clean energy generation.”
SunSpec Authorized Test Laboratories represent a foundational service for inverter and other component manufacturers to demonstrate readiness to meet the communications requirements of California Rule 21. They provide testing services, with the SunSpec engineering team responsible for validating results and issuing certification marks.
For more information about SunSpec Authorized Test Laboratories and the SunSpec Certification program visit https://sunspec.org/sunspec-certification/.
News item from the SunSpec Alliance
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