By Chinonye Anyatonwu
The renewable energy sector has in recent times, witnessed increasing attention, partly due to challenging and changing circumstances of time. The demand for clean, reliable, cost-effective and efficient energy both in rural and urban areas as well as challenges posed by climate change have also given rise to the increasing need for Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE). Experts believe that RE standards and quality products would boost power demand, supply, capacities, and reliability across the country.
It was in line with this new awakening that Africa Clean Energy ACE programme, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation IFC and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s FCDO Energy Access Programme that a new solar laboratory has been installed and recently handed over to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON at a ceremony at the SON’s laboratory complex, Ogba, Lagos.
The commissioning of the facility was no doubt one of the gargantuan steps towards entrenching off-grid energy projects, which will in turn tackle poor power supply and other energy challenges in Nigeria.
IFC Senior Country Manager, Mr. Kalim M. Shah, while speaking during the ceremony. lauded the partnership between the Nigerian government, SON, IFC and FCDO. which led to the establishment of the solar laboratory.
He stated that all the programme partners share the ambition to develop the renewable energy market and capitalise a market-based approach to the adoption of off-grid solar electrification technology with a specific focus on high quality stand-alone systems. He added that universal access to clean and affordable electricity remains key to reducing poverty and sustainable solutions. which need to be targeted at countries where access to renewable energy is low.
It is believed that accelerating renewable energy solutions remains a viable path to meeting soaring global energy in nations. Additionally, energy makes provide opportunities for investment, innovation and new industries thereby creating jobs and boosting economic growth.
According to the World Bank, only 55.4 per cent of Nigerians have access to electricity, leaving over 90 million Nigerians without access to electricity.
“Renewables like solar can be a game- changer to bridge this gap, therefore there is an urgent need to significantly scale up efforts in the countries, regions and states with the largest electricity deficits to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030. IFC and the World Bank Group are proud to be among the cooperating partners supporting the government of Nigeria in addressing access needs in the country. Working with the government and the private sector, we have focus on different aspects of the energy mix in the country”, the IFC top official declared.
The World Bank’s $350 million Nigerian electrification project is aimed at increasing access to electricity services for public educational institutions and smaller businesses. Nigeria’s electrification project has motivated one of the most ambitious off-grid energy projects in the country.
Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, on his part, said the commissioning of the solar laboratory signified that the challenges in the renewable energy sector are being tackled, calling on all stakeholders to patronise the facilities for quality products in the sector as well as meeting the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and growing Nigeria’s economy. He also appealed to international organisations, relevant Multilateral Development Agencies MDAs, as well as business leaders in the Renewable Energy RE sector to put hands on deck to ensure diligent implementation of the standards and optimal utilisation of the laboratory facilities for the overall benefit of all.
Experts also believe that renewable energy standards would boost power demand, supply, capacities and reliability across the country. Apart from the official handover of the facility, the occasion was used to launch market surveillance and enforcement plans for the RE sector and presentation of certificates to trained laboratory Engineers.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones expressed delight over what has been achieved so far and emphasised the commitment to supporting SON help Nigeria get access to global energy. He said significant strides have been made to enable access and utilisation of good energy resources such as solar. He said for a long time the proliferation of substandard solar products in Nigeria have created serious reputation issues to the sector and have created market spillage, adding that this was a key and difficult issue which needs to be addressed.
“To resolve this important issue in the sector, UK government supports the Nigerian government’s adoption of international recognized standards of quality solar products”, he stated.
According to him, quality is important and needs to be enforced to improve the RE sector and eliminate poor quality products hence UK government also commissioned setting up quality test laboratory that meets international standards to support standards enforcement and improve surveillance activities by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. He said the laboratory was the first of its kind in West Africa that would help the enforcement of quality standards.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria, Dr. Segun Adaju, said the launching of the laboratory would deepen investment and consumers’ confidence in the sector. He noted that prior to this milestone and SON’s adoption of national solar standards, the members of the association could rely only on the Lighting Africa Project’s manufacturers of quality verified products list for importation.
He urged SON to embark on an aggressive awareness campaign to educate users on how to support SON to flush out bad elements in the sector, stating that the association has adopted self-regulatory approach to discipline erring members.
Experts say the implementation of the standard and quality verification of the new laboratory would mitigate unwholesome business practices in the sector.
For Engr. Akan Michael, National Chairman, Nigeria Society of Engineers / Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NSE/NIEEE), launching of the new laboratory means the road has been opened for new innovations. While thanking the donor partners and other stakeholders, he said
“We, as an institute have observed the progress and the successes recorded by SON and few months ago requested for an opportunity to honour the Director General, SON who happens to be a hardworking man and has worked to enhance quality delivery of products across the country,” he said.
Country Manager, Nigeria, Africa Clean Energy’s Technical Assistance Facility (ACE-TAF), Mr. Chibuikem Agbaegbu believes strongly that implementing standards remains a collaborative effort among SON and the organised private sector players, adding that enforcement would be easy if standards are adapted to the needs of the various sectors.
“Working together, we developed this market surveillance and enforcement plan which basically articulates the step-by-step process and guide to which SON collaborates with all key stakeholders to implement an entire market surveillance activity”, he said.
This, according to him, cuts across how the organisation co-ordinates with the private sector and consumers, how it will operationalise the laboratory, working around the implementation of policy, and companies that have to do with improving standards, he re-stated.
He said the enforcement plan is more like a template and a guide specific for solar sector as SON works towards the implementation of standards.
