Solar Accreditation Bodies in South Africa

South African Photovoltaic Industry Association

The national industry association for solar PV. SAPVIA runs the PV GreenCard programme, which certifies that an installation meets recognised quality and safety standards — ask your installer for a PV GreenCard.

PV GreenCard Programme

A SAPVIA quality-assurance certificate issued per installation. It confirms the system was installed to the PV GreenCard standard and gives the homeowner a documented record of the work.

Department of Employment and Labour

Electrical work must be signed off by a registered person holding a Wireman's Licence, who issues an electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the installation — a legal requirement for grid-connected solar.

National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications

Electrical products such as inverters and batteries must carry a valid NRCS Letter of Authority (LoA) to be sold and used in South Africa. Reputable installers use only LoA-approved equipment.

South African Bureau of Standards

Sets the national standards solar installations are built to, most notably SANS 10142-1, the wiring code that governs low-voltage electrical installations including embedded generation.

National Energy Regulator of South Africa

Regulates grid-tied and hybrid systems that connect to the grid. Small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) must be registered, and your installation is also registered with your local municipality.

Engineering Council of South Africa

Larger commercial and industrial installations often require sign-off by an ECSA-registered engineer, confirming the structural and electrical design meets professional engineering requirements.

Electrical Contractors' Association of South Africa

A voluntary association of registered electrical contractors. Membership is a useful indicator that a contractor operates to recognised professional and safety standards.