Standardization and Certification of Solar Water Heaters:A Regional Workshop 17 - 18 November, 2009

1. SWHs Certification and Standardization Workshop
Tunisia 17-18th November 2009
I. Preamble
During the regional workshop on Solar Thermal Applications that organized by RCREEE
on March 2009 in Cairo. SWHs development and promoting have been discussed
deeply. The results concentrated on the urgent need to support the market development
of SWHs with efficient tools. RCREEE planned to launch a program for SWHs
certification and standardization, such as the European program “solar keymark”.
A workshop had been organized on November 2009 in Tunisia to discuss the available
methodologies to proceed in such a program on regional bases
The two days workshop on SWHs certification and standardization Workshop was a
regional event gathered representatives from all RCREEE member states to discuss the
actual state of SWHs production as well as setting up a strategy for adopting specific
Standards and Certification-system that enhances the production and use of SWHs in
the Arab countries.
This process primarily aims at two objectives:
• Ensuring the quality of equipment used in solar thermal installations
• Ensuring the qualification of installers
The workshop succeeded in highlighting a basis among the Arab countries regarding to
SWHs certification and standardization. It concluded with a strategically mission how to
create a common approach among the Arab countries in order to enable the expansion
of SWHs market in the countries of the region. On the basis of expanding SWH
production, the Arab countries could benefit from existing experiences and encourage an
intra-trade between the Arab countries in the renewable energy-sector.
II. General Remarks
The workshop was well organized and the program well-balanced. The presentations
from European experts provided a good background about the needed elements for
SWHs standardization and certification program as well as the presentations of the
participating countries which also provided a good overview about the market drivers
and the standards adopted in their respective countries as well as prospects and
barriers.
The workshop to be held in Tunisia was a good decision. This allowed the participants to
learn about the successful Tunisian experience and gave the impression that a lot could
be done in the way of enhancing SWHs market in other countries.
The discussions were lively and openly addressed the required procedures for
successful SWHs certification and standardization regional program, and which future
steps are required in order to overcome the existed barriers.

2. The overall impression is that the RCREEE network is functioning well and serves as a
solid base for a fruitful cooperation among the countries and involved entities such as
LAS, ALECSO and AIDMO.
The summary was too optimistic, since it gave the impression that everything is already
on the right track. This could not be extracted from the reports and contributions in the
same way.
III. Workshop Activities
The first day concludes 3 sessions and a panel discussion. The 2nd day concludes 2
sessions, a final panel discussion and a field trip to a SWHs manufacturing utility and a
large scale solar water heating project as follows:
Day 1
The presentations of this day were appointed to address the meaning of SWHs
certification and standardization program and its requirements, besides the national,
regional and international experiences in this term through 3 sessions:
Session 1:
This session concentratied on identifying the basis of such a prgram and included 3
presentaions:
1. SWH Certification and Standardization program, Definitions and Requirements
Jan Erik Nielsen- Plan Energy, Denmark
2. Testing of solar thermal products as a basis for certification
Harald Drueck- ITW Stuttgart University, Germany
3. Arabian Certification and Standardization System
Mr. Mostafa Abdul Mone’m, Standardization and Metrology Centre, AIDMO, LAS
Session 2:
Showing the international and the regional experiences was one of the key figures of te
workshop. Session 2 illustrate the European and the Arabian experience in the field of
the SWHs certification and standardization through the following three presentations ;
1. European Experience, Solar Keymark
Jan Erik Nielsen- Plan Energy, Denmark
2. SWHs Certifications & Standardization progress and requirements in MENA
Region
Dr. Mohamed Kordab, University of Damascus
3. Arabian Experience in the field of Regional promoting for SWHs
Dr. Mohamed Maalej, ALECSO
Session 3
It was really important to learn about the national actions towards SWHs standards as
well as certification procedures. This session included the national papers of Jordan,
Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Palestine and Yemen
Panel Discussion
Panelists: - Dr. Kilian Baelz, RCREEE Acting Director
- Jan Erik Neilson, Plan Energy, Denmark
- Dr. Harald Druek, Stuttgart University, Germany
- Mr. Mostafa Abdul Monem, AIDMO Regional Director

3. - Dr. Mohamad Kordab. Damascus University, Syria
Moderator: Eng. Ashraf Kraidy, RCREEE
The discussions focused on the tangible steps to launch SWHs Certification and
Standardization program on regional bases, using the already existing tools and taking
the advantage of the European experience.
Day 2
The successful Tunisian experience in terms of SWHs promotion was the main subjects
of the second day, where the presentations showed in details the used elements and
procedures of the Tunisian program.
Session 1
PROSOL program is the framework where the Tunisian success story is created. The
three presentations of this session explained the program implementation procedures
and basis as follow:
1. Introduction for PROSOL
Mr. Moncef Njeimi, Director of PROSOL Project, ANME
2. SWH accreditation system (Specification Conditions)
Mr. Monji Bida, CEESEN
3. Installation Procedures and Conditions, a case of an accredited private Co Mr.
Mr.Taher Ashur, President of Tunisian Syndicate Chamber of RE
Session 2
This session completed the subjects of the previous session about the Tunisian
experience through the following two presentations:
1. Tunisian Standards and Test Procedures for SWH
Mr. Rafiq Zayan, Thermal and Energy Laboratory for Building,
2. The Tunisian SWHs certification and Standardisation program
Noureddine Ketari - Institut des Énergies Renouvelables
Round Discussion
This round discussion illustrated on what conclusions and recommendations could be
extracted of the workshop. It was Moderatored by Ms. Amel Bida from RCREEE
Field trips
Two field trips have been conducted at the end of the workshop as a completion of the
activities, the first one was to SWHs manufacturing utility to closly learn about the
standards and the conditions of the manufacturing procees, the second one was to a
large scale solar water heating project for a hotel in Hammat city.

4. IV. Conclusions
1- The needed infrastructure for SWHs Certification and Standardization program is
already existed. National standards are available as well as the testing facilities
in some countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan and Syria.
2- Most of the national standards are adopted from even the European or ISO
standards.
3- Certification programs are missing in all countries (Tunisia is preparing her own
program)
4- All the participants agreed that SWHs certification and standardization program is
an urgent need to promote SWHs markets, and prevent tem against poor quality
products.
5- SWHs C&S program will help to support the local manufacturing of SWHs.
6- Installation processes in most countries are not controlled or monitored.
7- Achievements of the European experience shows how this program could
succeed regionally.
8- SWHs products exchange in the region is very minor, in the time when the local
markets are still seeking for support.
9- The participation of LAS. AIDMO and ALECSO were very important. LAS could
use their authorities to support implementing the program within an up down
approach through the Ministerial council for electricity affairs.
V. Recommendations
• Taking the advantages of the European experience to create the Arabian SWHs
certification and standardization program and avoid duplications.
• While most of the countries are already adopted the European standards as
national standards, and the worldwide efforts are concentrating in unifying the EN
and ISO standards. It’s recommended to adopt the European standards to be the
base of the new SWHs Arabian Standards. And then integrate them to the
conditions to each country.
• Arabian Standardization and Metrology Center Methodology could be adapted to
end out with new Arabian standards.
• Although the workshop is regarding the governments as a main actor who can
have an influence on the industry, it is important that the industrial sector takes
part in this procedure of creating common standards/certificates for SWHs. If we
take a close look at the experience in Europe, so we find out that the industry has
pushed/escalated the application of SWHs production.
• SWHs regional Market should be created with certain bases that encourages
high quality and disregards any destructive (scaling down) concurrence
• We have to develop common goals of the member countries. On this basis all
relevant stakeholders should cooperate to reach the targeted aims.
• We decide to work on a top-down procedure and create SWH criteria on a high-
policy level. Any achievements to be presented to the Arabian Ministerial Council
for Electricity Affairs to be accredited.
• Tunisian certification model will be the base of the Arabian one
• SWHs regional quality label is an essential target for the program

5. • Create a network within the Arab countries in order to harmonize regulations and
procedures to proceed in the program. LAS and its organization should be
involved.
• SWHs certification and Standardization program should focus on:
‐ Secure the quality of the products and the installers.
‐ Create financial support.
‐ Increase the involvement of R&D in market promotion
‐ Create a database for SWHs industry
‐ Refresh the scientific and technological exchange with Europe
‐ Taking the advantages of the existed testing facilities
‐ Link between the four main areas of the program:
Certificates
Standards
Testing
Industry