Case Study

Accreditation empowers the “Top Runner” PV Program

 

Summary

A Jiangsu-based enterprise obtained China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) accreditation for its testing capabilities in high/low temperature and vibration, providing reliability assurance for the research and development (R&D) of its new-generation photovoltaic (PV)-storage products. This has contributed to cumulative carbon emission reductions exceeding 500,000 tons in projects such as the Zhangjiakou Olympic Wind-Solar City.

Background

To promote the specialised, refined, distinctive, and innovative development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are also known as “Specialized and New” enterprises, since early 2024, the Chinese government has been encouraging SMEs to obtain quality management system certification accredited by CNAS as an important measure to strengthen quality management and enhance production management capabilities.

Strategy

A company in Jiangsu is a national high-tech enterprise. It has been recognised by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a “Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative ‘Little Giant’” enterprise. For consecutive years, it has been listed as a Bloomberg Tier 1 Global Photovoltaic (PV) Inverter Manufacturer and has received multiple national honours, including National Intelligent PV Pilot Demonstration Enterprise, National Green Factory, and National Green Supply Chain Management Enterprise. In 2024, the company’s in-house laboratory achieved accreditation from CNAS, and became an internationally recognised testing laboratory. This demonstrates that its management system and technical capabilities comply with the ISO/IEC 17025 international standard, marking its environmental reliability testing technology as having reached an advanced international level.

In green development initiatives, technology empowers the “dual carbon” goals. The CNAS-accredited testing capabilities (e.g., high/low temperature, vibration) provide reliability assurance for R&D of next-generation PV-integrated storage products, contributing to a cumulative reduction of over 500,000 tons in carbon emissions (based on data from projects like the Zhangjiakou Olympic Wind-Solar City). As a founding participant in the national “Photovoltaic Leader” program, the company has contributed to 4 national standards (GB), 1 local standard (DB), 6 industry standards, and 13 association standards.

Regarding trade facilitation, CNAS accreditation has enabled market expansion: overseas orders rose from 14% to 16% of total sales, while international project testing costs were reduced by 10%.

Through obtaining CNAS accreditation, the laboratory aligned its energy storage technologies with international standards, gaining recognition for energy storage system testing capabilities from TÜV Rheinland (Germany) and UL (USA). In 2024, the company’s global shipments of Power Conversion Systems (PCS) reached 88,000 MW, ranking second in global market share, with deployments in over 20 large-scale energy storage projects across the Middle East, Europe, and other regions.

Innovation drives dual improvements in quality and efficiency, enabling closed-loop R&D management. CNAS accreditation facilitated the establishment of a “Testing-R&D-Production” integrated system in the laboratory, supporting 163 patent applications (45% invention patents). Core technologies were awarded the First-Class Prize of the Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Award (Total valid patents: 239, including 32 invention patents).

Moving forward, the company will continue to deepen its alignment with international standards to provide high-quality technical support for the global green energy transition.

Results and impact

This has contributed to cumulative carbon emission reductions exceeding 500,000 tons in projects such as the Zhangjiakou Olympic Wind-Solar City.

CNAS accreditation has enabled market expansion: overseas orders rose from 14% to 16% of total sales, while international project testing costs were reduced by 10%. The company’s global shipments of Power Conversion Systems (PCS) reached 88,000 MW, ranking second in global market share, with deployments in over 20 large-scale energy storage projects across the Middle East, Europe, and other regions.

Contact

Organisation: Compiled by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS)