Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a US-based provider of safety testing and certification services, has just launched its latest UL-Europe (UL-EU) mark for the European photovoltaics market. The mark is based on the applicable EN safety standards for photovoltaic products. In the U.S. and among the biofuels industry, UL is most well known as the organization that has yet to approve an E85 dispenser – a necessity as our country moves forward with achieving the goals set out in the Renewable Fuels Standard.

For companies operating in the photovoltaics markets based in both North America as well as other countries, UL now offers the ability to obtain the UL-EU mark in combination with UL certificates for the U.S. and Canada, as well as the IEC certificates from a single source. According to UL, the advantage of obtaining the certification is an easier entry to market due to lower administrative and logistics costs, and ultimately, certification expenses. Once certification is achieved, it is valid for 10 years as long as the product does not change or safety requirements are not altered.

In support of the new safety certification, UL is offering companies who are interested in obtaining UL and IEC certificates for global market access the new UL-EU mark for free. This offer also applies to companies that only require the IEC certificate. In addition, for any project started before the end of 2010, UL will not charge for inspection, administration or annual costs for the first year.

In March of this year, UL opened its largest global photovoltaic testing and certification facility in Frankfurt, Germany.