Overview
A solar panel — a photovoltaic module — is a sealed generating device that must keep producing safely through decades of outdoor exposure. That makes its certification different from the wider solar and renewable-energy equipment category: the key evidence is an accredited IEC 61215 design-qualification (type-approval) report and an IEC 61730 safety-qualification report for the exact module type, with the declared electrical ratings and marking matching the tested product exactly.
PV modules fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the module range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. Solar inverters, charge controllers, mounting systems and battery storage are covered on our wider Solar & Renewable-Energy Equipment page; this page covers PV modules and panels specifically.
Product Types
The SABER route and module-specific requirements apply across products including:
- Monocrystalline silicon PV modules
- Polycrystalline (multicrystalline) silicon PV modules
- PERC, TOPCon and heterojunction (HJT) modules
- Bifacial glass-glass modules
- Half-cut cell and shingled modules
- Thin-film modules (CdTe, CIGS, amorphous silicon)
- Building-integrated PV (BIPV) panels
- Small off-grid and solar-lighting panels
The scope of your certificate is defined from the cell technology, the module bill of materials and the HS code. We structure the certificate so the module range you actually export is covered.
HS Codes
Solar panels are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the exact product.
- 8541.43 — Photovoltaic cells assembled in modules or made up into panels
- 8541.42 — Photovoltaic cells not assembled in modules or panels
- 8541.49 — Other photosensitive semiconductor devices
- 8501.71 / 8501.72 — Photovoltaic DC generators (module supplied as part of a set), where applicable
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Solar panels are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation and PV module type-approval standards
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- An accredited IEC 61215 design-qualification / type-approval report for the exact module type
- An accredited IEC 61730-1 and IEC 61730-2 safety-qualification report, stating the module safety class
- Nameplate electrical ratings (Pmax, Voc, Isc, Vmp, Imp) matching the test report
- Module marking, junction-box rating and label-durability evidence
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Solar panels are assessed under the Saudi Technical Regulation for Low-Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances, together with the PV-specific type-approval standards. Internationally the core set is IEC 61215-1 / IEC 61215-2 (design qualification and type approval for terrestrial crystalline-silicon and thin-film modules) and IEC 61730-1 / IEC 61730-2 (module safety qualification — construction requirements and test requirements — which give the module its safety class, usually Class II). The desert-relevant stresses inside or alongside these sequences — thermal cycling, damp heat, humidity-freeze, UV preconditioning, hail impact, static and dynamic mechanical load, and potential-induced degradation (IEC 62804) — are what a plain electrical datasheet does not evidence. The exact regulation and standard set is confirmed at assessment from the module construction and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Solar panels are typically evaluated against the applicable IEC standards for module qualification and safety. Typical verification includes:
- IEC 61215-1 / IEC 61215-2 — design qualification and type approval (crystalline-silicon and thin-film terrestrial modules)
- IEC 61730-1 — PV module safety qualification: construction requirements
- IEC 61730-2 — PV module safety qualification: requirements for testing
- IEC 62804 — potential-induced degradation (PID) test methods
- IEC 61701 — salt-mist corrosion testing (coastal / Gulf sites)
- IEC 60068-2-68 — sand and dust resistance
- IEC 62716 — ammonia corrosion testing where relevant
- Thermal cycling, damp heat, humidity-freeze, UV preconditioning, hail impact and mechanical-load sequences (within IEC 61215)
Existing accredited type-approval reports may be accepted where they cover the exact bill of materials (cell type, encapsulant, backsheet or rear glass, junction box, frame) and are within validity. A change to the bill of materials usually invalidates the report. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical solar-panel application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the module range
- Product photographs showing the module nameplate and junction box
- Technical datasheet with Pmax, Voc, Isc, Vmp, Imp, module dimensions and cell technology
- Accredited IEC 61215 design-qualification / type-approval report
- Accredited IEC 61730-1 and IEC 61730-2 safety report with the declared safety class
- Bill of materials for the module construction
- Manufacturer details and Declaration of Conformity where relevant
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the module range against the applicable standards. In outline:
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Classification and scope
We confirm the cell technology, bill of materials, HS code and applicable standards, and define what the certificate should cover.
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Report review
We check whether your IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 reports match the manufactured module and its bill of materials.
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Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, nameplate, marking and test evidence against the regulation.
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PCoC issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform. It is typically valid for one year.
SCoC Process
A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment and is what customs checks at the border. In outline:
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Shipment details submitted
The invoice, packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted for the specific consignment.
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Verification
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC, the declared module type and nameplate ratings are confirmed, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.
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SCoC issued
The SCoC is issued for that shipment, allowing it to clear Saudi customs. Each new shipment needs its own SCoC.
Certification Timeline
The main variable is whether valid IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 reports already exist for your exact bill of materials. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With acceptable existing type-approval reports — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh module qualification is required — IEC 61215 / 61730 type-approval sequences run several weeks to a few months, so this is by far the largest driver
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place
Common Problems
- Only a flash-test / performance datasheet or a factory certificate submitted — no accredited IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 type-approval report
- Type-approval report covers a different bill of materials (cell, backsheet, encapsulant, junction box) than the modules shipped
- Nameplate power, voltage or model number not matching the certified type
- HS code still declared as the pre-2022 8541.40 instead of 8541.43
- IEC 61730 safety class or junction-box rating missing from the file
- PID, salt-mist or sand-dust evidence absent for a project that specified it
- Modules and inverters combined on one certificate — inverters need their own IEC 62109 route
We check these points up front — especially the type-approval reports and the nameplate match — so shipments are not held at customs for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't the manufacturer's flash-test datasheet enough?
No. A flash-test sheet reports electrical output only; Saudi conformity for PV modules is built on accredited IEC 61215 design-qualification and IEC 61730 safety type-approval for the exact module type. A datasheet or factory certificate alone does not satisfy the requirement.
Do the modules and the inverter go on one certificate?
No. PV modules are certified against IEC 61215 and IEC 61730; solar inverters follow a separate route against the IEC 62109 series plus grid-interface requirements. Each needs its own PCoC. Inverters and system components are covered on our Solar & Renewable-Energy Equipment page.
My module passed IEC tests two years ago — can I reuse the report?
Possibly, if it is from an accredited laboratory, within validity, and the bill of materials (cell type, encapsulant, backsheet or rear glass, junction box, frame) is unchanged. A change to the bill of materials usually means re-qualification, because the reports are construction-specific.
Do Saudi projects need extra desert testing?
Many tender specifications add potential-induced degradation (IEC 62804), salt-mist corrosion (IEC 61701) and sand / dust resistance (IEC 60068-2-68) on top of the base qualification. We confirm from your project specification what the buyer actually requires.
How much does SABER certification for solar panels cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 reports already exist for your exact bill of materials. With acceptable reports a PCoC can often be arranged within a few working days; fresh module type-approval testing runs several weeks to a few months and is the main variable. Send your module details and reports for a specific quote and timeline at no cost. See our SABER certificate cost guide.
Which products and HS codes does this cover?
The same SABER route applies across monocrystalline, polycrystalline, PERC, TOPCon, HJT, bifacial and thin-film PV modules and panels — generally classified under HS 8541.43 (assembled modules and panels), with 8541.42 for unassembled cells. We confirm the correct classification for your exact product during assessment.
Get Your Solar Panels Certified
Send us your module type, cell technology, electrical ratings, bill of materials, HS code and any existing IEC 61215 or IEC 61730 test reports. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation, testing and marking requirements, review your testing, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.