The Laboratory of Photovoltaic Systems (LSF) linked to the Institute of Energy and Environment (IEE) from the University of São Paulo (USP) certificates solar modules, charge controllers, grid-connected and off-grid DC/AC inverters according to INMETRO guidelines 004/2011 and 357/2014 (based on ISO/IEC 17025 Standard, available only in Portuguese). The LSF is a laboratory credited by INMETRO and all testing are done according to the INMETRO ordinance 004/2011

If there is interest in labeling devices for photovoltaic systems, please follow the next steps:

1. The company must request a registration as importer in the Brazilian Secretariat of the Federal Revenue (RADAR system of Siscomex);
2. The company must request  a registration as importer with INMETRO to obtain the import license for the testing samples (ORQUESTRA system of INMETRO);

3. The company must request a registration with the laboratory accredited by INMETRO to get the testing budget and schedule.

 Doubts about the RADAR system and the procedures for importing PV modules, charge controllers and DC / AC inverters can be clarified by a customs broker.

In order to request an evaluation, please fill, sign and send in electronic format the corresponding specification sheets (PET) and the labeling request forms to fotovoltaico@iee.usp.br.

You can download the INMETRO ordinance and forms by clicking the links bellow:

INMETRO 004/2011 ORDINANCE (Available only in Portuguese): INMETRO Guidelines describing the requirements  for photovoltaic system components conformity (solar modules, charge controllers, DC/AC inverters and batteries).

Module’s PET  (Available only in Portuguese):  It is the technical specification form for solar modules.  This document has to be filled and signed by the company. This document must have the solar module datasheet information.

Controller’s PET  (Available only in Portuguese): Specification sheet for charge controller.  This document has to be filled and signed by the company. This document must have the inverter datasheet information.

Off- grid Inverter’s PET  (Available only in Portuguese): It is the technical specification form for DC/AC inverters. This document must be filled and signed by the company. This document also must contain the inverter datasheet information.

Grid connected Inverter’s PET  (Available only in Portuguese): It is the technical specification form for DC/AC inverters. This document must be filled and signed by the company. This document also must contain the inverter datasheet information.

Labeling request form (Available only in Portuguese):  Document that contains information about the company and the products intended to be labeled. This document have to be filled and signed by the requester company and must have information about the provider/manufacturer.

The Term of Commitment and the declaration of conformity has to be send only to INMETRO. It is important to mention that INMETRO requests a Commercial Representation Letter and the Company Social Contract in order to verify the relationship between the company and the imported product. For more information about the Commercial Representation Letter and the Social Contract, please write to regobjeto@inmetro.gov.br.

The LSF/IEE- USP sends to INMETRO the evaluation report with the efficiency label. INMETRO publishes the result in its homepage after analyzing the report and authorizes the importation of larger quantities. The procedure requires two modules (samples) of the same model and the certification costs are R$3400.00 ( Three thousand four hundred Brazilian reais) per model. The mentioned value includes all tests required by INMETRO. However, additional costs, such as costs for product registration in INMETRO and  for the logistics to deliver and collect the photovoltaic modules, must be paid by the requester company.

After the delivery of the modules it is necessary about 15 to 30 days to finalize the testing and send the report to INMETRO. After testing the modules are returned to the company. There is no retention of samples. The same procedure is necessary for charge controller and inverters.

If the samples are imported, the correct procedure is:

1. The foreign company sends the samples to a company in Brazil;
2. After customs clearance, the company in Brazil sends the samples to LSF/IEE-USP.

Particular attention is needed for the mentioned procedure. The Brazilian Secretariat of the Federal Revenue will not allow the clearance if the foreign samples are send directly to IEE-USP..

In order to request a budget, please fill the following form (available only in Portuguese). 

After filling the form, the company must schedule the delivery of the samples by sending an e-mail to: fotovoltaico@iee.usp.br

After scheduling, two samples must be sent to IEE-USP on the following address:

Av. Professor Luciano Gualberto, 1289
CEP 05508-010
São Paulo - SP
A/C: André Mocelin ou Tadeu Osano

If you need the Tax number (CNPJ) and other data of the institution (Instituto de Energia e Ambiente- IEE):

Razão Social:  Instituto de Energia e Ambiente - IEE
CNPJ: 63.025.530/0042-82
Inscrição estadual: Isento
Telefone: (11) 3091-2676

Important:

The register of the product in INMETRO expires in 1 (one) year. The company must perform new tests in a laboratory accredited by INMETRO every year to keep the labeling of a particular model.

The report emitted by the laboratory accredited by INMETRO also expires in 1 (one) year. It is recommended that the company registers the product in INMETRO’s ORQUESTRA systems immediately after receiving the test report.