Studies
Solar power. N/A N/A
Tackling the Quality in Solar Rural Electrification (TaQSolRE) : Development of a strategy to improve confidence of stakeholders involved in the photovoltaic electrification (private, public, financial) and improvement of Photovoltaic programmes reliabili
| Country : | OTHERS |
| Client : | European Union (DG TREN) |
| Start Date : | 2003 |
| Completion Date : | 2005 |
| Value of services : | 662 516 € |
| Funder : | European Union |
| Associate/Partner : | IES – ECN – IED (– ITPI) |
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| Description : |
TaQSolRE is about ‘Tackling Quality of Solar Rural Electrification’. The project deals with measures to improve the present low level of technical quality of PV stand-alone systems, which hampers its acceptance and the confidence of the consumers. On the one hand, the TaQSolRE project promotes that quality control of PV systems be done according to standards which can be verified at local level. While on the other hand a tool is being developed to resolve issues concerning the poor reliability of PV installations. Objectives : * To identify the technical problems linked with the social acceptance of solar rural electrification in developing countries. * To establish technical parameters that permit quantification of the PV system reliability and confidence ensuring energy delivery on a temporal basis. * To explore the mechanisms to establish local or regional quality controls in PV systems as a whole, modules, B.O.S. components, installation and service. * To increase the confidence in PV systems as an important tool to support sustainable development in rural areas of developing countries through improvement in the quality of life by the provision of appropriate electrification. |
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| Description of the Actual Services Provided | Expected Main Results * To improve the reliability and to decrease the effective costs of stand-alone PV systems with the help of normative and quality control process. * To increase the acceptability of and confidence in the PV technology as an important energy source for rural electrification, especially in developing countries. * Empowering PV players (manufacturers, planners, electricity companies/utilities, etc.) with knowledge on PV reliability. The consequence will be products that are more reliable with reduction in life cycle costs of PV systems. * Contribution to overall system efficiency. Also the fact that the quality control should be made locally contributes to the availability of PV generators. It supports the technical know-how of local players, favouring local manufacturing of B.O.S. components and providing operation and maintenance services. |