By Palma Ejeye
In a bid to strengthen quality control and enforcement frameworks, stakeholders in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector have intensified efforts to curb the circulation of fake and substandard products.
This is as the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) engaged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Abuja, to deepen collaboration on testing and certification, capacity building, policy alignment, and stronger regulation across the renewable energy value chain.
REAN reaffirmed its commitment to standardisation and quality assurance during the engagement, stressing that tighter collaboration with SON is critical to eliminating fake and substandard renewable energy products from the Nigerian market.
The association noted that weak enforcement and gaps in existing standards have continued to allow inferior products to circulate, undermining consumer confidence and slowing sector growth.
At the high-level discussions, REAN also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory coordination to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy space.
These include inconsistencies in standards, affordability concerns linked to certification processes, and the increasing presence of substandard solar and renewable energy equipment in the country.
The association further raised concerns about delays in product testing and approval, calling for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the system.
It stressed that improved infrastructure would support faster deployment of quality renewable energy solutions nationwide.
REAN also urged closer collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency, to ensure harmonised standards and more effective enforcement against fake renewable energy products in the Nigerian market.
In response, SON acknowledged the important role REAN continues to play in supporting standardization within Nigeria’s renewable energy industry and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen collaboration with the association.
SON further confirmed that REAN will be actively involved in future standard review processes and upcoming stakeholder engagements related to renewable energy and electric mobility standards development.
REAN also expressed its readiness to support SON by sharing relevant standards- related materials and technical inputs that can contribute to the development of harmonized national renewable energy standards.
In its closing remarks, REAN reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with SON and disclosed its willingness to formalize the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening cooperation promoting quality assurance, and accelerating Nigeria’s transition toward reliable and standardized renewable energy solutions.
Both organizations expressed optimism that sustained collaboration and stronger stakeholder engagement will significantly improve standardization, encourage compliance, and support the long-term growth of Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
