PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) is the National Metrology Institute of Germany, which provides scientific and technical services. PTB´s International Cooperation group supports developing and emerging countries in creating and implementing internationally recognized Quality Infrastructure that has been tailored to suit each country’s needs.
Since 2013, Niels Ferdinand has been advising PTB on its project “Strengthening Quality Infrastructure for the solar industry” in India. As the key international consultant, he has been responsible for the project design definition of the main project components, together with PTB´s project coordinator. Niels continues to advise PTB on the project strategies and facilitates ongoing contact with the project partners and stakeholders.
Picture: PTB
The project has achieved an improvement of the Quality Infrastructure services available to the photovoltaic sector.
Among them:
- Laboratories have improved their services on module testing and solar cell calibration.
- International standards were adopted to the Indian standards system, making them available to the sector.
- There is increased awareness of the importance on quality assurance in the Indian PV sector.
- Finally, the project team has worked with financial institutions on the development of quality assurance mechanisms for Solar PV Projects – enabling an important leveraging effect.