ABSTRACT
The World Bank Group has almost a decade of experience with twelve projects around the world that use solar photovoltaic technology to provide basic energy services to rural households in developing countries. The Bank has learned that product and service quality is essential, if all participants in the supply and service chain are to make a profit or see a significant benefit — a prerequisite for the widespread and accelerated dissemination of solar PV. The presentation highlights the comprehensive quality improvements that are being implemented throughout the supply and service chain by the Photovoltaic Market Development Component of the World Bank/GEF-Assisted China Renewable Energy Development Project. Initial results are promising and suggest that China's experience may well demonstrate that developing countries can not only compete internationally on the basis of quality, but also can be active contributors to ever-evolving global standards for solar PV.
