BSMI Announces Inspection Requirements for Photovoltaic Inverters and PCS; Businesses Should Prepare in Advance for Safety, EMC, Grid Connection, and Registration of Product Certification

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), Ministry of Economic Affairs, has established the Inspection Requirements for Photovoltaic Inverters Subject to Mandatory Inspection and amended the Inspection Requirements for Power Conversion Systems Subject to Mandatory Inspection. These requirements govern the inspection scope, inspection standards, inspection methods, certificate procedures, and Commodity Inspection Mark requirements for photovoltaic inverters and power conversion systems (PCS).

As photovoltaic power generation, energy storage systems, distributed power, and renewable energy applications develop rapidly, related power conversion equipment has increasingly become important equipment in residential buildings, commercial offices, factories, charging facilities, and energy management systems. These products involve requirements relating to electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, grid stability, cybersecurity protection, and restricted-substance marking. Businesses should complete compliance assessments in advance during product design, testing, importation, release from the factory, and pre-market preparation.

Photovoltaic Inverters Included within the Scope of Mandatory Inspection

The announcement includes photovoltaic inverters with a capacity of 100 kW or below among commodities subject to mandatory inspection. Photovoltaic inverters are critical equipment in solar power generation systems. Their primary function is to convert direct current generated by photovoltaic modules into alternating current for use or grid connection.

Photovoltaic inverters generally operate for extended periods and may be connected to photovoltaic modules, building power distribution systems, monitoring units, or the Taiwan Power Company grid. Their safety, EMC, grid-connection compliance, cybersecurity protection, and complete labeling therefore affect equipment stability and operational safety.

Scope of PCS Inspection Expanded to 100 kW or Below

A power conversion system (PCS) is important equipment that converts and controls power between an energy storage system and the power grid, electrical loads, or power generation equipment. Following the BSMI amendments, the capacity range for PCS inspection has been expanded to 100 kW or below, with different inspection requirements applying according to capacity and functional configuration.

For businesses involved in energy storage equipment, photovoltaic systems, energy management systems, and related power equipment, the applicable standards and inspection preparations will be affected by whether the PCS has a photovoltaic module input, whether it has grid-connection functions, whether its use is limited to industrial environments, whether its capacity exceeds 20 kW, and whether cybersecurity testing applies.

Inspection Covers Safety, EMC, Grid Connection, Cybersecurity, and RoHS Marking

Photovoltaic inverters and PCS are highly integrated power supply equipment. Inspection focuses not only on basic electrical safety but also on electromagnetic compatibility, grid-connection requirements, cybersecurity testing, and marking of the presence of restricted substances.

EMC requirements affect whether a product can operate reliably in its actual operating environment without interfering with other equipment. Grid-connection requirements relate to whether the product supplies electricity to the Taiwan Power Company grid. Cybersecurity requirements reflect the increasing importance of communication security and system protection as renewable energy and energy storage equipment become more connected and intelligent.

Relevant products must also display information on the presence of restricted substances in accordance with the Marking of Presence requirements under Section 5 of CNS 15663. In addition to testing product functions and safety, businesses should confirm that product labeling, packaging, instructions, or webpage disclosures comply with the applicable requirements.

Inspection Methods Include Type-Approved Batch Inspection or Registration of Product Certification

According to the relevant announcements, photovoltaic inverters and PCS may follow either Type-Approved Batch Inspection or Registration of Product Certification. Products following Type-Approved Batch Inspection must first obtain a Type Approval Certificate and apply for inspection before importation or release from a domestic manufacturing facility. Products following Registration of Product Certification will be issued a Registration of Product Certification certificate after passing the applicable review.

For businesses, choosing between Type-Approved Batch Inspection and Registration of Product Certification will affect subsequent testing, documentation preparation, quality management systems, factory inspections, inspection application procedures, and market launch schedules. Businesses with numerous product models, frequent shipments, or long-term sales requirements are advised to evaluate the appropriate certification method in advance.

Businesses Should Note the Implementation Dates and Certificate Validity Periods

Inspection of imported and domestically manufactured photovoltaic inverters will take effect on July 1, 2027. For power conversion systems, inspection of products with a capacity of 20 kW or below will take effect on July 1, 2026. Inspection of products with a capacity exceeding 20 kW and up to 100 kW will take effect on July 1, 2027.

The announcements also stipulate that Type Approval Certificates and Registration of Product Certification certificates will be valid for three years. Businesses that complete applications and obtain certificates before the official implementation dates should still confirm the commencement of the certificate validity period, the Commodity Inspection Mark requirements, and subsequent market launch schedules in accordance with the announcements.

Existing VPC Certificate Holders Should Still Confirm Differential Testing Requirements

Certain photovoltaic inverter or PCS products may previously have obtained Voluntary Product Certification (VPC) certificates from BSMI. According to the announcements, an existing VPC certificate holder may have the originally designated testing laboratory conduct supplementary differential testing, after which the report may be converted into a type-test report.

Businesses that have obtained relevant certificates should therefore not assume that their products will transition seamlessly to the mandatory inspection requirements. They should confirm the existing test reports, certificate scope, product models, technical documentation, applicable standards, and differential testing requirements to avoid affecting shipments or inspection applications after mandatory inspection formally takes effect.

Product Certification Recommendations

Action Technology recommends that businesses involved in photovoltaic inverters, PCS, energy storage equipment, photovoltaic systems, energy management equipment, and related power supply products confirm the inspection requirements during product design and market launch planning rather than discovering insufficient testing or documentation only before importation, shipment, or retail listing.

• Confirm Whether the Product Falls within the Scope of Mandatory Inspection: Assess the product based on its functions, capacity, whether it has a photovoltaic module input, whether it has grid-connection functions, and whether it is classified as a PCS or photovoltaic inverter.
• Arrange Safety and EMC Testing in Advance: This type of power equipment generally involves electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility requirements. Testing schedules, sample preparation, and time for corrective modifications should be incorporated into the market launch schedule in advance.
• Confirm Grid-Connection and Cybersecurity Requirements: If the product can supply electricity to the Taiwan Power Company grid, or if its capacity and functions are subject to cybersecurity testing requirements, confirm the applicable technical specifications and test items in advance.
• Review RoHS Marking and the Commodity Inspection Mark: The product itself, packaging, label, instructions, or webpage disclosures should be correctly marked in accordance with CNS 15663 and the Commodity Inspection Mark requirements.
• Evaluate Type Approval or Registration of Product Certification: Businesses should select an appropriate inspection method based on shipment methods, the number of product models, quality management systems, and market plans.
• Review Existing VPC Certificates and Test Reports: Businesses that have obtained Voluntary Product Certification should confirm whether supplementary differential testing is required and consult the designated testing laboratory regarding conversion procedures as early as possible.
• Establish Product Change Management Procedures: If power modules, control boards, firmware, communication modules, enclosure materials, or critical components are subsequently changed, assess whether the changes affect the original test results or certificate information.

Certification of Renewable Energy Equipment Should Be Incorporated into Product Development in Advance

Photovoltaic inverters and PCS are critical equipment in renewable energy and energy storage systems. Product certification should not be regarded as the final procedure before market launch but should be planned throughout product specification design, component selection, circuit design, EMC countermeasures, firmware cybersecurity, sample testing, and mass-production documentation management.

Action Technology Co., Ltd. will continue to monitor BSMI inspection requirements relating to power supply equipment, photovoltaics, energy storage, and power conversion systems, assisting businesses with product testing, EMC testing, SAFETY compliance testing, BSMI certification assessment, technical documentation review, and pre-market compliance planning to help products enter the market more smoothly.

Sources: Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs｜Inspection Requirements for Photovoltaic Inverters Subject to Mandatory Inspection
Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs｜Comparison Table of Amendments to the Inspection Requirements for Power Conversion Systems Subject to Mandatory Inspection