Strengthening the infrastructure quality for photovoltaic in Tunisia

Axis A:

Improved capacity of testing laboratories for testing PV modules and other plant components.

Completed actions:

In order to strengthen the activity of the Tunisian laboratories in the field of technical control and testing of certification of specific photovoltaic panels, a diagnostic mission was carried out at the end of April 2016 by an international expert. This action allows to:

• Identification of any type of normative tests necessary for the certification of photovoltaic modules with their required benches.

• Diagnosis of existing physical and human infrastructure within the scope of this new activity.

• Identification of the training topics and technical assistance actions required to apply the certification testing standards for photovoltaic panels and other components.

Another diagnostic mission is in progress to identify tests on inverters and other (non-module) components of PV installations.

Axis B:

Quality assurance for installed photovoltaic systems.

Completed actions

• Dialogue is being conducted with the various GIZ projects to ensure the contribution to this strand already being handled by the GIZ.

• As part of this component, a practical installation guide for small installations will be produced. This guide will identify good installation practices and will be a reliable tool especially for new installers.

Axis C:

Awareness of PV installers, customers and public actors in relation to aspects of quality.

Completed actions

At its first planning workshop in January 2016, the project identified as the activities for its component C, the development of a communication strategy / plan for the quality of PV modules and installations, which will take into account the Improvements identified in Components A and B and to provide targeted support for the implementation of this plan.

A diagnostic study was carried out by a state-of-the-art communication expert on quality awareness in the photovoltaic sector (review of existing communication tools and tools in Tunisia, which may also include tools deployed at regional level). The collection of information was carried out through a series of semi-directed interviews with the actors concerned.

A workshop was carried out after this diagnostic study aims to:

• To restore the results of this state of affairs.

• To agree on the target audiences and the communication objectives according to the actors, as well as the possibilities for cooperation between actors.

• To develop, on this basis, a plan of action / plan of operation for the awareness / communication within the framework of the IQPV project