PTB recently supported nine Ukrainian experts in strengthening quality assurance within the rapidly growing photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) sector. To facilitate this, a specialized five-day training on PV system inspection was presented by TÜV Rheinland in Cologne from 30 August to 4 September 2026.
The programme provided essential practical knowledge and skills for assessing key safety and performance parameters of PV installations. As a result, the importance of quality infrastructure (QI) in the PV sector was further emphasized, and the participants acquired competencies that will support systematic inspections to ensure long-term safety and performance in Ukraine.
To ensure these skills can be applied immediately, the corresponding measuring and field-testing equipment is currently being delivered to Ukraine. This enables the experts to transition from “the classroom” to actual hands-on inspections in the field. As one of our participants put it: “I gained a great deal of valuable theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills in using the equipment.”
The delegation represented a diverse range of institutions, including the national metrology institute Ukrmetrteststandart, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and experts from the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, the Dnipro University of Technology, the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, and the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. This marks an important step towards reliable and sustainable solar energy development in Ukraine. By building local inspection capacities, we are contributing to greater confidence in the quality and resilience of PV systems and energy infrastructure.
We also made sure to integrate some local Cologne customs into the schedule. A visit to a traditional brewery provided the perfect setting for networking and cultural exchange—and, in the true spirit of metrology, served as a lighthearted “round-robin comparison” of the local specialties!
Cover image: ©PTB/Stefan Wallerath
