General
By using the AREP sites, applications and/or services, you agree to comply with and be bound by the respective terms and conditions whether or not you become a registered user/contributor/member/subscriber or any other title as may be awarded to you through the use of the services, apps and platform offered by AREP. These terms govern your access to and use of the AREP managed sites, and/or applications developed for and offered as a service by AREP and all the content of this agreement as defined below. These terms also provide guidelines for the participation in the AREP quality assurance platform and constitute a binding legal agreement between the user (you), AREP and any associated app, webpage, or website owned managed and operated by the Association for Renewable Energy Practitioners, its administrators, secretariat and managers as may be appointed by the Association from time to time.
In addition, certain areas of the AREP websites, domains, sub-domains and other applications may have different terms and conditions, standards, guidelines, or policies posted and may require you to agree with and accept additional terms and conditions for each respective area. Where there is a conflict between these AREP Terms and other AREP terms and conditions posted for other areas, sites, applications, services, or content, the latter terms and conditions will take precedence with respect to your use of/or access to that area of the site, application, services, or content.
AREP directory
AREP directory is a service which lists installation data of solar PV sites, contractors, events, training and other information which may be useful to the PV sector. The website is available in the public domain and this means
that all information provided on this platform becomes available to other viewers which make use of AREP services and/or platforms. This is similar to other social media sites or platforms where information is posted and shared.
that it will display information as is currently available to AREP or otherwise obtainable through other social media platforms, websites or publicly available sources.
By publishing information on this platform, you agree that all information as provided may be displayed on the directory platform.
By posting information you agree that you are authorised to do so.
The AREP PV Performer Platform
The AREP PV Performer platform or program is also referred to as the P4 program/platform and is a quality assurance platform that measures the performance of contractors based on a number of metrics. Contractors using the platform are scored and the score determines a level of activity within the solar PV sector. Activities may be linked to “risk” but not financial credibility. Only contractors that agree to participate in the program will appear on the list of P4 accredited contractors.
A P4 accredited contractor, would have:
- Agreed to a specific standard of installation according to a visual evaluation linked to an IEC standard.
- Passed a theoretical online test
- Passed an installation evaluation
- Submitted data to the AREP directory
- Have had a customer review their installation on the AREP Directory
The aim of the P4 platform is to build a database of reputable solar PV contractors that are actively involved in the sector and then to promote these contractors to developers, end-users and organisations interested in acquiring solar PV contractors that offer good quality service, with the least amount of risk based on standards and a transparent frame of reference which includes feedback from clients, evidence of existing projects and theoretical evaluations.
By agreeing to the terms and conditions, you agree and understand that AREP
- Does not provide project opportunities
- Is not a lead-to-business platform
- Does not adjudicate projects
- Is not in control of organisations looking for contractors involved in the PV sector
- Cannot be held accountable if contractors are not awarded a specific project as a result of a client or user’s interaction on the AREP websites, domains and sub-domains.
The AREP P4 Test Platform or Test app.
The purpose of the AREP test/tests is for candidates to test their knowledge of renewable energy systems or technology. Under certain conditions candidates might be required by prospective organisations to take the test as a measure of testing theoretical knowledge on the subject of solar PV technology.
The test/tests form part of the AREP P4 quality assurance mechanism and can be made available as a downloadable software application for mobile devices or online through a third party web-based application.
Although the app may have been developed for android or iOS applications, AREP nor the developer of the app has any control over the device while it is being used and cannot accept the outcome of the test based on the way in which the software responds to hardware, internet reception issues or any other technical issues that may impair the functionality of the various platforms.
The test environment is not a proctored test environment and can be considered to represent an open-book type exam.
It is expressly agreed that AREP cannot be held liable for the performance or theoretical knowledge of candidates or organisations participating in the services and mechanisms offered by AREP
Time allocation
Please ensure that the device is plugged in or has sufficient battery capacity in order to complete the test. Test time is limited to a maximum of one hour although the average time taken to complete the test is 30 minutes.
Formal qualification
Passing the test does not grant any credit towards a formal qualification and it is not the intention of AREP to register the test or course materials against unit standards or to convert any part of the material into a formal qualification. Formal qualifications however may form part of the future requirements in order to participate in the AREP quality assurance mechanism/platform and this may be limited to certain countries or regions.
Costs for taking the test
Taking the test is free of charge for the first attempt. Please see our pricing schedule for costs associated to the second and third attempts. Annual testing may become a requirement in order for continued use of the AREP Quality Assurance Platform. In any event, the first attempt will always be free of charge.
Number of attempts
Candidates are given 3 attempts where the Pass/Fail criteria is 80%. Pass/Fail criteria remain 80% regardless of the number of attempts.
The first attempt is free of charge. Following the third failed attempt, candidates will have to prove that they have attended a PV course in order to improve their theoretical knowledge. Any PV course can be taken in order to qualify to write the test again provided that the course will enable the candidate to pass the online test.
A certificate of attendance will need to be submitted along with the registration form for the 4th attempt as evidence that a course has been attended.
Second round - Course attendance
Upon submission of the attendance certificate; candidates will be given another two attempts to pass the test. If the candidate fails these two attempts; evidence will have to be submitted along with the test registration of having personally been involved in at least 3 solar PV installations. This will be referred to as a portfolio of evidence.
Third round - Portfolio of evidence
The following details for each installation should be included in the portfolio of evidence showing pv installation experience and can be provided with the use of a Portfolio of evidence spreadsheet.
New Projects, career advancement and job opportunities
It is expressly agreed that AREP cannot be held liable for incurring revenue losses due to test results, as AREP does not
- Grant or decline projects
- Guarantee career advancement
- Provide or guarantee employment to candidates that have passed the test.
- Warrant or guarantee any increase in job opportunities or prospects of candidates passing the test to become eligable for certain positions of employment
- Guarantee that candidates that have passed will receive any job offers;
as a result of the test, platform or services offered by AREP.
Testing standards
Tests have been developed based on IEC standards which are being adopted in various African regions and will include other relevant standards for the respective regions such as including SANS standards for candidates writing tests in South Africa, as a mixture of SANS and IEC standards are applied in that region.
In South Africa IEC standards are being converted into SANS standards, hence a good knowledge of IEC standards should suffice for the purposes of passing the test for candidates based in this region.
Privacy - test results
AREP will not sell or distribute bulk contact information to any third party.
When taking the test, candidates agree that the AREP test app/platform is a means of testing theoretical knowledge and that the test result in the event where the candidate has passed may be shared with service providers / financiers and other organisations making use of this type of information
It is agreed that AREP
may issue a performance certificate containing information related to a candidate or organisation’s performance in the sector, which may contain contact information of the individual or the organisation linked to the individual that wrote the test.
Where the candidate has not passed the test
AREP will not share test results publicly, but may share other information publicly related to the performance of the candidate/contractor in question.
It is agreed that AREP may share the test results when a 3rd party known to the contractor is paying for the tests/certificates as a means of assessing theoretical knowledge.
AREP will treat performance certificates with care and endeavor to ensure that the intended document reaches the intended recipient. Contact information contained in a performance certificate is not deemed to be confidential information and will be treated with care and respect.
Information contained in performance certificates may contain contact information used as a means of confirming the identity of the candidate or organisation.
AREP cannot be held liable for attachments or documents that are circulated by parties outside of AREP which may contain sensitive information.
Use of personal information
It is expressly agreed that AREP may:
- Store personal information and test results in its database.
- Make that information available to external parties, third parties or any other organisations and or individuals looking for candidates that possess good knowledge of solar PV equipment and standards by issuing acertificate that contains a collated version of information at the disposal of AREP.
- Notify a candidate when a certificate is issued and that it has been requested
Form of communication
It is agreed that e-mail is an acceptable method of communication. A candidate will be given 24hours to respond, accepting or declining such a request. Should no response be received, it would be accepted that the candidate has approved the issuing and circulation on the basis that there was no objection.
Updates to Terms and Conditions
AREP retains the right to amend add, improve, remove, adjust or change the platform, adjust or change questions and answers and add or remove content as may be required from time to time and retains the right to amend Terms and Conditions.
When notices of changes are circulated, it is agreed that AREP can use e-mail as a means of communication even though delivery by e-mail may not be a guaranteed means of ensuring that recipients did in fact receive the notice of changes and amendments made to the terms and conditions. AREP can not be held liable for non-delivery of e-mails to a recipient.
Contracting EPC’s on the platform
AREP aims to provide a platform that reflects certain parameters by which candidates and organisations can be measured through the use of what is deemed to be a transparent, predictable and fair mechanism developed by AREP.
AREP has no control over any services offered and work conducted by contractors that have signed in to the AREP platform and all work is conducted outside of the control of AREP and the quality assurance mechanism.
