PD IEC TS 62257-9-5:2018

What is PD IEC TS 62257-9-5-stand-alone renewable energy products about? 

The IEC 62257 series covers recommendations for renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification. The main objectives of the series are to support the capabilities of households and communities that use small renewable energy and hybrid off-grid systems and inform organizations and institutions in the off-grid power market. 

PD IEC TS 62257-9-5 is a Technical Specification, that applies to stand-alone renewable energy products having the following characteristics: 

• All components required to provide basic energy services are sold/installed as a kit or integrated into a single component. 
• The PV module maximum power point voltage and the working voltage of any other components in the kit do not exceed 35 V. Exceptions are made for AC-to-DC converters that meet appropriate safety standards. 
• The peak power rating of the PV module or other power generating device is less than or equal to 350 W 
• No design expertise is required to choose appropriate system components 

Note: This voltage limit corresponds to the definition of decisive voltage classification A (DVC-A) for wet locations in Table 6 of IEC 62109-1:2010. 

Who is PD IEC TS 62257-9-5-Stand-alone renewable energy products for? 

PD IEC TS 62257-9-5 on renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification is useful to: 

• Market support programmes that support the off-grid lighting market with financing, consumer education, awareness, and other services 
• Manufacturers and distributors that need to verify the quality and performance of products 
• Bulk procurement programmes that facilitate or place large orders of products 
• Trade regulators such as government policymakers and officials who craft and implement trade and tax policy. 

Why should you use PD IEC TS 62257-9-5-stand-alone renewable energy products? 

Photovoltaic hybrid power systems are gaining attraction as a means for rural electrification given rising prices of conventional fuel, lower operating costs, and improved service quality as compared to traditional single-source generating systems. 

 The purpose of PD IEC TS 62257-9-5 is to specify laboratory test methods for evaluating the quality assurance of stand-alone renewable energy products. PD IEC TS 62257-9-5 is specifically related to renewable energy products that are packaged and made available to end-use consumers at the point of purchase as single, stand-alone products that do not require additional system components to function. 

PD IEC TS 62257-9-5 establishes the framework for creating a product specification, the basis for evaluating quality for a particular context. Product specifications include minimum requirements for quality standards and warranty requirements. Products are compared to specifications based on test results and other information about the product. The product specification framework is flexible and can accommodate the goals of diverse organizations and institutions. The tests and inspections are designed to be widely applicable across different markets, countries, and regions. 

Overall, PD IEC TS 62257-9-5 can ultimately assist you with choosing the right system for the right place, and designing, operating and maintaining the systems in accordance to best industry practices.  

What’s changed since the last update? 

PD IEC TS 62257-9-5:2018 supersedes PD IEC/TS 62257-9-5:2016, which is withdrawn. PD IEC TS 62257-9-5:2018 has been technically revised and contains the following changes: 

• The required support cannot be obtained for the publication of an International Standard, despite repeated efforts 
• The subject is still under technical development or where, for any other reason, there is the future but no immediate possibility of an agreement on an International Standard