Global Photovoltaic (PV) Testing & Inspection: 2026 International News Update

1) 2026 headline: standards transition accelerates—and it is becoming more test‑sequence driven

Across major PV markets, 2026 continues a multi‑year shift from “one‑off certification” toward tighter, more structured compliance regimes that explicitly prescribe which test sequences, which representative samples, and which bill‑of‑materials (BOM) changes trigger retesting. This is most visible where regulators and market access schemes are aligning to newer editions of IEC 61215 (performance/reliability) and IEC 61730 (safety), and where national schemes are formalizing transition windows.

India: BIS publishes a concrete transition timeline for revised IS/IEC 61730 (safety)

In early 2026, India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issued official transition guidelines moving the market from IS/IEC 61730-1:2016 and IS/IEC 61730-2:2016 to IS/IEC 61730-1:2023 and IS/IEC 61730-2:2023 under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). The guidance specifies a concurrent operation period and sets a clear compliance deadline: all registered models must comply with the 2023 editions by 15 Feb 2027, after which non‑transitioned models may be cancelled/deleted from the BIS registry.

Notably, the guidance also names different partial-test sequences depending on bifacial performance declarations (e.g., aBSI thresholds), reinforcing a broader trend: regulatory compliance is increasingly “test‑sequence granular,” not just standard‑edition based.

India: MNRE tightens the “series approval” logic—sampling, labeling, and family definitions

At the end of 2025 (feeding directly into 2026 implementation work for manufacturers and labs), India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) released revised guidelines for series approval for BIS registration under the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025.

Key points that matter operationally for testing & inspection organizations in 2026 include:

• Product family definition and representative sampling: for family coverage, labs test multiple samples across low/median/high power classes.

• Marking/traceability requirements: MNRE explicitly instructs labs not to accept modules for testing if required markings are missing.

• BOM and process change control: changes may require retesting; the guidance also references alignment with IS/IEC 62915:2023 for certain change scenarios.

For test labs, this pushes more work into front‑end conformity checks (label verification, documentation completeness) and structured sampling plans, not only environmental/electrical test execution.

2) Market access programs keep raising the baseline: IEC 61215:2021 changeovers ripple into 2026 supply chains

Australia: CEC' s IEC 61215:2021 requirement sets a de‑facto market baseline

Although announced earlier, Australia’s Clean Energy Council (CEC) module listing program illustrates how program-based market access drives global testing behavior. The CEC implemented a phased changeover that requires listed PV modules to comply with the 2021 edition of the IEC 61215 series (performance/reliability), with cutoffs that effectively force supply chains to shift inventory and certification portfolios.

In 2026, many manufacturers still feel downstream effects—especially in APAC supply networks—because the CEC listing status impacts eligibility (e.g., for incentive mechanisms such as STCs), turning standard edition compliance into a commercial necessity.

3) North America: more "standards participation" to reduce global friction between UL and IEC

A quieter but important 2026 signal is the growing role of global test-and-certification organizations inside standards bodies.

TÜV Rheinland expands participation in UL technical committees

In late 2025 (with 2026 implications for committee work programs), TÜV Rheinland announced expanded participation in several UL Standards & Engagement Technical Committees tied to PV system safety and performance—explicitly naming committees such as UL 61730 (PV module safety) and others for trackers and mounting systems.

For the testing and inspection field, this matters because it supports:

• Faster interpretation of emerging requirements (lab procedures and internal methods can be aligned early).

• Practical harmonization between UL and IEC frameworks, lowering duplicative testing for global manufacturers.

UL’s broader framing: harmonization with IEC 61730 is already the direction of travel

UL Solutions’ public materials emphasize a continued transition from legacy UL 1703 toward UL 61730 (harmonized with IEC 61730), highlighting that BOM changes can trigger retesting and that new requirements are intended to keep pace with technology and materials innovation.

4) Technology & application expansion is driving "new test targets" : agrivoltaics and hazardous locations

In 2026, PV module testing is not only about higher efficiency; it is increasingly about new operating contexts that create new risk models and therefore new inspection and certification needs.

Agrivoltaics: lightweight, glass-free module designs move toward IEC certification

pv magazine reported in January 2026 that Mirai Solar certified a lightweight “shade screen” PV module for agrivoltaics applications, with certification to IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 and testing/certification involvement from TÜV Rheinland.

This highlights a broader trend for test labs:

• Non-traditional module form factors (flexible polymeric sheets, foldable designs) still need to map onto IEC reliability and safety frameworks.

• Agrivoltaics introduces extra field-reality constraints (mechanical flexing, greenhouse environments, installation methods) that drive inspection requirements beyond classic rooftop/utility cases.

Hazardous locations: PV enters explosion-risk zones with dedicated certification claims

In January 2026, AIKO announced that its back-contact module received explosion protection certification from TÜV SÜD, positioning PV for use in environments such as oil & gas facilities and chemical plants.

Even where such announcements come from manufacturers, they signal a market need: PV safety evaluation is expanding from “electrical + fire” into “area classification and ignition-source control”. That expands the remit of inspection bodies and creates new demand for specialized test protocols, documentation, and installation verification.

5) PV metrology and test equipment: consolidation continues as LED simulation gains share

Testing capacity is shaped not only by standards and regulation but also by the tooling ecosystem—solar simulators, IV measurement systems, and inspection instrumentation.

Avalon ST acquires PASAN SA: LED and xenon solar simulation portfolios combine

A 2025 deal continues to shape 2026 procurement and lab capability planning: Avalon ST (LED-based solar simulation and PV metrology) announced its acquisition of PASAN SA (xenon-based solar simulators and precision measurement systems). The combination is positioned as a way to cover a broader span of PV technologies and measurement needs.

For PV test labs and module manufacturers, the trend is clear:

• LED solar simulation is increasingly favored for repeatability, throughput, and compatibility with advanced cell technologies.

• Consolidation can accelerate standardized workflows—while also influencing service networks, calibration approaches, and equipment qualification practices.