The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has expressed worry that some of the solar power solutions imported into the country are of poor quality.
Some renewable energy experts who spoke at the Gennex Colloquium last week in Lagos at the week joined their voice to the observation of SON, and called on the federal government to ensure quality control of solar solutions imported into the Nigerian market.
SON marketing and technical officer, Adewunmi Richard, while fielding questions from the audience, told the gathering that the federal government is expected to step in and set standards needed to ensure that imported solar solutions meet the required quality
“From the way things are currently being done in Nigeria, if care is not taken, people will begin to develop apathy for solar systems because of lack of quality control. Infiltration of fake products makes solar energy solutions appear like a failure, and the government needs to take concrete steps to ensure quality control,” he said.
Richard added that product seizure was not the solution to the menace. He advised that standard institutions must be empowered to provide awareness, enact code of practices, ensure quality control, and organise certification programmes for operators, investors, and the masses alike.
Head, solar energy, Sterling Bank, Seyi Okunuga, while speaking on the theme: Proper Designing and Sizing of Solar Solutions for Commercial and Residential Customers’, blamed the state of the country observing that solar solutions were expensive in Nigeria due to rising foreign exchange rates, which according to him, affected prices of solar panels and products being imported into the country.
The SON chief advised the federal government to take a closer look inwards and give support to indigenous energy firms capable of producing solar panels in-country. He explained that this would go a long way to providing employment in the country.
In his keynote address, executive director, Gennex Technologies and organisers of the event, Toyin Ilo, said the renewable energy sector had recorded tremendous progress over the last decade.
“Despite this giant stride, challenges still abound. One of the major challenges confronting our sectors is how to properly size and design solar solutions to make them more cost-effective and at the same time durable.
“At Gennex, we have blazed the trail by coming up with innovative approaches to tackling this problem, but the situation in the entire industry is not helped by the proliferation of inexperienced and unqualified ‘solar installers’ who advise commercial, industrial and even residential customers on solutions design and sizing, and choice of inputs.”
She called on the government, industry leaders, experts, policy actors, leading energy companies, financial institutions, civil society, and all stakeholders to join in the search for solution to poor quality, adulterated solar products.”
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