100,000+ Readers Use This Scorecard to Make Solar Decisions

In fact, since moving the Scorecard online in 2021, we’ve been able to track its reach — more than 100,000 unique IP addresses from over 170 countries have accessed the 2024 edition. We’ve received messages from people all over the world, including someone in Sri Lanka who used it to help install solar panels on the roof of an airport. Even Kiwa’s own chief integration officer told us he used the Scorecard to install panels in his home.

IAM (Incident Angle Modifier) testing is one of the newer additions we’ve highlighted, first in 2024 and again in 2025. It assesses how a module performs as the angle of sunlight shifts throughout the day, especially on fixed-tilt systems. Alongside temperature and light intensity variation tests, IAM helps model real-world performance in greater detail.

This level of insight is especially valuable for utility-scale projects, where even a 2% performance difference can translate into major financial implications for companies (or even individuals). That’s why our data is primarily geared toward large-scale buyers; however, curious homeowners may still find value in it.

In addition to the public Scorecard, we offer a Premium Partner program. While the Scorecard provides a high-level summary, Premium Partners gain access to detailed results and reports, including actual degradation figures, extended reliability test data, and more. It’s updated quarterly and provides a more complete picture of how products perform.

All of this is supported by our Product Qualification Program (PQP), which includes 11 tests going well beyond basic certification. Standard certification ensures a baseline level of safety and minimal performance, but it doesn’t predict how a module will perform over 25 years on a rooftop or in extreme conditions. That’s where PQP shines. 

Moreover, we update the test plan every two years based on new field data, technology trends, and feedback from buyers and experts across Kiwa and the industry. 

Of course, most module manufacturers say they have the best quality. Our job is to confirm those claims with independent, transparent, and thorough testing. As our Scorecard grows in reach, we see more global adoption. Manufacturers from around the world now recognize the value of participating. It’s no longer just about the U.S. market, in the 2025 edition, we have 50 manufacturers globally listed as Top Performers.

Being named a Top Performer in the Scorecard has become a badge of honor for manufacturers. They use this recognition in their marketing: on datasheets, trade show booths, even in email signatures! I’ve also seen the Top Performer logo displayed at trade shows in meter-high banners.

I am very proud that our work has elevated the Kiwa brand while serving the solar industry with trusted insights. I don’t think I could work anywhere else in the solar industry and have the same level of influence. From a climate change perspective, solar is a proven solution, and I’m proud to contribute. Whether through the Scorecard or our day-to-day collaboration with global partners, we know we’re helping people make better decisions for a more sustainable future.”

Explore how trusted data and performance insights are transforming sectors — only in Trace Magazine.