As South Africa’s solar industry gains momentum, industry body the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has announced Bravo Scan as a partner for its Photovoltaic Green Card (PVGC) programme.

The partnership aims to usher in a new era of quality and safety in solar installations, as concerns over the quality of solar PV installations have become more common.

SAPVIA aims to address this issue by redoubling its efforts to instil public confidence, with its PVGC programme standing as an industry hallmark for quality assurance.

“The South African public has come to trust our PVGC-accredited members for solar installations that adhere to the highest quality standards,” says SAPVIA CEO Dr Rethebile Melamu.

All certified PVGC installation companies are registered electrical contractors with the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) and employ PVGC-assessed individuals.

Bravo Scan is an approved inspection authority endorsed by the DEL.

“Collaborating closely with our new quality assessment partner Bravo Scan, we aim to further intensify the objectivity and rigour with which we oversee the activities of our certified PVGC installation companies,” Melamu states.

She explains that Bravo Scan will be integral to skills development within the PVGC ecosystem and will also assist with inspections of installations.

“This will allow us to further improve quality and compliance, making sure that we’re making the most of our abundant solar energy resources at every installation site. Bravo Scan’s endorsement by both the DEL and South African National Accreditation System gives an additional layer of credibility and authority to the PVGC,” Melamu adds.

This partnership also aspires to enlighten end-users about their responsibilities in selecting solar installers. Melamu urges the public to only use the services of credible solar power installation companies.