I. Common Logic of South American Certification: IEC Standards Plus Local Adaptation
The certification systems in major South American PV markets (Brazil, Chile, and Colombia) share a common logic: while IEC standards serve as the technical benchmark for testing, products must be certified by local accredited bodies to obtain local certification; Chinese GB/T or CQC certificates—and even CE or UL certificates—are not directly accepted. Additionally, each country imposes specific requirements based on local grid characteristics.
For instance, Brazil’s grid operates at 60 Hz with voltages of 127/220 V or 220/380 V—differing from China’s 50 Hz and 220/380 V—requiring hardware adaptation and re-verification for equipment such as inverters. In Bogotá, Colombia, the altitude is approximately 2,600 meters; high altitude and low air pressure can degrade electrical insulation performance, necessitating air clearance correction tests. Furthermore, labels, manuals, and warning statements must be in Spanish or Portuguese.
When planning for the South American market, enterprises should adopt a three-pronged market entry strategy: local certification, grid adaptation, and language localization.
II.
Brazil: Mandatory INMETRO Certification and ANEEL Grid-Connection Registration
Brazil is the largest PV market in South America and implements a mandatory certification system.
PV modules are certified under INMETRO Ordinance No. 004/2011, based on standards NBR 16690 (derived from IEC 61215 for crystalline silicon and IEC 61646 for thin-film modules), with additional Brazilian-specific requirements: higher UV radiation intensity, high-humidity environments (Amazon and coastal regions), salt mist corrosion resistance, and an operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. Inverters are regulated under Ordinance No. 140/2012 (as amended by Ordinance No. 515/2023) and must comply with NBR 16149 (grid-connection interface characteristics: 60 Hz, THD ≤ 5%), NBR 16150 (conformity testing procedures), and NBR IEC 62116 (anti-islanding testing). A critical point is that Chinese inverter certificates (such as GB/T 19964) are not recognized by INMETRO;
products must undergo re-testing and registration on a model-by-model basis at INMETRO-accredited laboratories in Brazil. Certificates are valid for three years subject to annual surveillance, and product registration must be renewed annually; distribution companies will reject grid-connection applications for inverters not listed in the INMETRO registry (in accordance with ANEEL Normative Resolution No. 1000/2021).
Certification costs are calculated per model (the University of São Paulo PV laboratory’s public quote is approximately 3,400 BRL per model), and the overall process takes about 1 to 3 months.
III.
Chile: SEC Product Authorization and Mandatory AFCI
PV products in Chile are subject to a product authorization system administered by the Superintendence of Electricity and Fuels (SEC); inverters and modules must obtain model authorization via the SEC’s online PV product authorization platform.
The safety benchmark is IEC 62109-1/-2 (safety requirements for PV power conversion equipment), and manufacturers must provide Spanish-language manuals as well as EMC and power quality reports.
In 2024, the SEC issued new regulations (including Exemption Resolution No. 26.493). Effective January 1, 2026, small-scale distributed generation (TE-4) projects must utilize inverters authorized by the SEC that feature Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) protection, or employ approved external AFCI solutions; relevant standards refer to IEC 63027 and UL 1699B.
Regarding grid interconnection, projects must comply with the technical specifications of the National Energy Commission (CNE) and the connection regulations of the Electricity Coordinator (Coordinador), while PMGD-scale projects are handled under a dedicated framework.
Chinese enterprises entering the Chilean market should first determine the project pathway (TE-4 self-consumption, distribution company connection, PMGD, or Coordinador review), then configure inverter firmware and protection parameters accordingly and compile the necessary evidentiary documentation for each requirement.
IV.
Colombia: RETIE Mandatory Certification
Colombia enforces the RETIE (Technical Regulation on Electrical Installations) mandatory certification scheme; the latest version is Resolution No. 40117, effective April 2024. The scope of certification has expanded to include wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, batteries for PV and wind systems, UPS units, and renewable energy inverters.
PV modules must undergo local conversion based on IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 test reports. Inverters must meet the safety requirements of the IEC 62109 series and the grid-connection characteristics of IEC 61727, including anti-islanding protection. PV cables and connectors must pass double-insulation tests and comply with UL 4703 or TÜV 2PfG 1169 standards, with a temperature rating of no less than 105°C.
RETIE certification is issued separately for each product family and manufacturing facility. The initial certification process takes up to six months, with costs ranging from approximately $8,000 to $10,000 per product family; annual renewals cost around $2,000, and recertification every three years costs about $4,000. Certificates are valid for three years, subject to annual factory inspections.
Labels must include information in Spanish and the RETIE mark; imports require a local Colombian agent, and testing must be conducted by a Colombian-accredited body (such as an ICONTEC-system laboratory).
V.
Practical Implementation and Common Pitfalls
A four-step approach is recommended for exporting to South America: First, break down the certification requirements by country—focusing on INMETRO and ANEEL for Brazil, SEC and AFCI for Chile, and RETIE for Colombia—to avoid the misconception that a single test report suffices for the entire region. Second, ensure grid and climate compatibility by adjusting designs and submitting samples for testing based on local voltage, frequency, high-altitude, and high-humidity conditions. Third, establish channels for local agents and laboratories; since Brazil and Colombia mandate local representation and testing, these certification timelines and costs should be factored into project budgets from the start. Fourth, maintain certificate validity; schemes like INMETRO and RETIE generally require annual surveillance and periodic recertification, necessitating dedicated personnel to track expiration dates.
Common pitfalls include: mistakenly believing that holding IEC or UL certificates grants automatic exemption from local certification (when in reality, these serve only as a testing basis); confusing RETIE with RETILAP (lighting regulations); overlooking Spanish or Portuguese labeling requirements; and ignoring grid frequency and voltage differences, which can lead to grid connection rejection.
Emerging trends—such as mandatory AFCI requirements in Chile and stricter DC-side safety standards in Colombia—indicate rising technical barriers in South American markets; companies that proactively address certification needs will gain a significant first-mover advantage.
Conclusion
Certification requirements for exporting PV components to South America can be summarized as follows: each country sets its own independent barriers, IEC standards serve merely as a foundation, and local certification is mandatory—such as INMETRO plus ANEEL in Brazil, SEC plus AFCI in Chile, and RETIE in Colombia—alongside requirements for grid parameters and language localization.
Only by treating certification as a dedicated project, breaking down requirements country by country, and securing local laboratories and agents in advance can one successfully navigate market entry in this rapidly growing region.
