TÜV Rheinland: New Standard for Traceability in the PV Industry

Project-specific service for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects / Enhanced quality assurance and supply chain transparency for investors, project developers, and purchasers / Standard builds on ISO 9001 and ISO 28000 and incorporates the practical experience and needs of the PV industry / www.tuv.com/solar

TÜV Rheinland, a global leader in testing and certification, has launched a new standard for traceability management in the photovoltaics (PV) industry. The standard, entitled “2PfG 3103/11.24,” is designed to enhance quality assurance and supply chain transparency within the PV sector. It enables project developers, buyers, and investors to trace the production processes of purchased PV modules on a project-by-project basis.

The traceability audit in accordance with 2PfG 3103/11.24 is grounded in the globally recognized standards ISO 9001 for management systems and ISO 28000:2007 for supply chain security. Additionally, TÜV Rheinland incorporates specific customer requirements. These could include the desired depth of traceability documentation or additional topics during audits, such as labor conditions compliance.

Enhancing Quality Assurance Systems

TÜV Rheinland’s traceability audit focuses on documentation spanning the entire PV module supply chain. “We evaluate whether and how precisely the systems, tools, and processes used by manufacturers can ensure traceability” explains Maximilian Lieberz, Business Development Manager at TÜV Rheinland. “This allows purchasers of PV modules to sustainably enhance their quality assurance systems.” The audit also ensures compliance with banking and financing requirements for PV projects.

The traceability service employs a three-phase methodology:

1. Initial Assessment: TÜV Rheinland evaluates the manufacturer’s management systems against ISO 9001 and any project-specific requirements of the customer.
2. Process & Tool Analysis: An in-depth review of the manufacturer’s existing management processes and traceability tools is conducted. The analysis also considers the manufacturer’s capability to meet stricter traceability demands in the future.
3. End-to-End Supply Chain Review: TÜV Rheinland assesses the full traceability chain, determining the level of detail at which traceability can be documented by the manufacturer.

Advancing Traceability in the PV Industry

TÜV Rheinland’s new traceability service addresses the rapid growth of the PV sector and the rising global focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues, including traceability. As part of the service's development, TÜV Rheinland has conducted traceability audits in over 100 factories belonging to seven of the world’s top ten PV module manufacturers, primarily in Asia, since 2023. This service is available globally, catering to the needs of PV buyers and investors while laying the groundwork for the establishment of traceability management as an industry standard.

For further information, contact: pv.supply.chain@tuv.com.