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Team

The VeraSol team holds a rich technical and programmatic background in quality assurance coupled with a commitment to provide neutral, high-quality service to the sector.

Operational Leadership

VeraSol is managed by CLASP in collaboration with the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt (Schatz Center). CLASP and the Schatz Center began their partnership implementing the Lighting Global Quality Assurance program in 2016 and now continue that work under VeraSol.

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CLASP

CLASP improves the energy and environmental impacts of the appliances we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. We serve at the epicenter of ambitious and collaborative efforts to prevent catastrophic climate change and make the world sustainable for all. CLASP works hand-in-hand with policymakers, governments, technical experts, industry, donor organizations, and consumer groups to develop and lead markets towards the highest-quality, lowest resource-intensive products. CLASP envisions a world in which appliances and other products are life-changing, low-impact, and environmentally responsible.

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Schatz Energy Research Center

Schatz Energy Research Center’s mission is to promote the use of clean and renewable energy. The center accomplishes this by: designing, demonstrating, and deploying clean and renewable energy technologies; implementing collaborative programs that support the deployment of clean energy systems; performing lab and field research; engaging in scientific and policy analysis; providing graduate fellowships and work opportunities for student engineers and scientists; and educating the public about clean and renewable energy. The Center was established in 1989, thanks to generous funding from Dr. Louis W. Schatz. It is affiliated with Cal Poly Humboldt’s Environmental Resources Engineering program.

Team Members

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Dr. Arne Jacobson

Director, Schatz Center

Arne brings 30 years of international experience in the off-grid solar sector to the team, and he serves as the technical lead for off-grid quality assurance for VeraSol.

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Elisa Lai

Senior Manager, CLASP

Elisa is an expert in off-grid appliances. She pioneered VeraSol’s product database and manages test methods and quality standard development for off-grid appliances and productive use technologies. As manager of VeraSol, Elisa advises on VeraSol program design, operation, and strategic engagements and partnerships.

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Abigail Kuria

Program Associate, CLASP

Abby is a program associate on the VeraSol team and supports several initiatives, including market scoping for appliances, interfacing with development programs and humanitarian aid agencies in the off-grid solar sector on business development opportunities and facilitating VeraSol's relationship with members of the Global Distributors Collective (GDC).

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Alejandro Cervantes

Engineering Technician, Schatz Center

With a background in mechanical engineering and renewable energy, Alejandro assists the team in coordinating the VeraSol verification process, testing products, and reviewing test reports.

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Ana Luisa (Luli) Sosa

Senior Associate, CLASP

Luli provides project management support for VeraSol, including product testing and quality verification services.

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Anna Wright

Coordinator, CLASP

Anna assists with VeraSol's daily operations, including team coordination, database and information management, and product sampling, testing, and reporting processes.

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Asif Hassan

Senior Associate, CLASP

Asif provides analytical support to VeraSol, which includes reviewing product data and developing and monitoring program indicators.

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Charles Muchunku

Policy Consultant

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Charles works with VeraSol to support the adoption and implementation of quality standards for pico-PV and solar home system kits in Eastern and Southern Africa.

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Christopher Carlsen

Technical & Policy Consultant

Drawing on over 15 years of relevant policy and technical expertise, Christopher leads VeraSol's activities supporting the adoption and implementation of harmonized off-grid solar standards.

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Hamadou Tchiemogo

Policy Consultant

Hamadou is a renewable energy specialist leading VeraSol's technical assistance in francophone countries.

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Hamidah Naishur Nakimuli

Research Assistant, Schatz Center

Hamidah assists with product testing, test methods, government, and industry engagement at the Schatz Center and VeraSol. Hamidah is a graduate student at Cal Poly Humboldt, pursuing Energy Technology and Policy.

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Kaileigh Vincent-Welling

Research Engineer, Schatz Center

Kaileigh helps with moving products through the VeraSol verification process by developing product test plans, testing products and reviewing test reports.

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Kevin Gauna

Technical Consultant

As a lighting and solar expert, Kevin provides technical support for VeraSol and contributes to technical notes.

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Kimberly Thorpe

Energy Analyst, Schatz Center

Drawing on her experience as a project manager and electrician, Kim oversees the communication and test coordination with manufacturers and labs, reviews and interprets test reports, and provides day-to-day support of VeraSol.

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Kristen Radecsky

Senior Research Engineer, Schatz Center

Kristen began testing off-grid solar products in 2007, where she played a key role in developing IEC/TS 62257-9-5.  Kristen provides technical support and training to laboratories within the VeraSol Testing Laboratory Network.

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Lisa Kahuthu

Communications Associate, CLASP

Lisa leads all communication efforts under VeraSol, ensuring that key insights gleaned from the program are communicated effectively.

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Martha Wakoli

Senior Associate, CLASP

Martha is a Senior Associate on the Climate team at CLASP. She supports the VeraSol Policy Technical Assistance team on PVoC engagement, off-grid appliance technical assistance and policy research projects.

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Meg Harper

Senior Research Engineer, Schatz Center

With over 11 years of experience in off-grid energy, Meg manages revisions to standards and test methods for off-grid products and assists with day-to-day activities related to quality verification.

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Mei Wan

Communications Consultant

Based in Shanghai, China, Mei is a communications consultant working on VeraSol’s engagement in China. She works with the VeraSol Communications team to to effectively engage Chinese stakeholders and build growing recognition of the VeraSol brand in China.

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Olakunle Owoeye

Policy Consultant

Olakunle is a sustainable energy expert, and supports Verasol in the development and implementation of quality standards for Solar PV systems in the ECOWAS region of Sub-Sahara Africa.

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Tanya Garcia

Research Engineer, Schatz Center

Tanya assists with test method development, test report reviews, and test coordination with manufacturers and labs.

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Tom Quetchenbach

Research Engineer, Schatz Center

A research engineer at the Schatz Center since 2011, Tom assists with development and validation of test methods, apparatus, and data analysis tools and provides technical support to test laboratories.