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.
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.
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Team Members
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.
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.
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).
Agnes Oloo
Administrative Associate, CLASP
Agnes assists with VeraSol's daily operations, including team coordination, product sampling, testing, and certification processes.
Alejandro Cervantes
Research Engineer, 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.
Ana Luisa (Luli) Sosa
Senior Associate, CLASP
Luli provides project management support for VeraSol, including product testing and quality verification services.
Anna Wright
Associate, CLASP
Anna assists with VeraSol's daily operations, including team coordination, database and information management, and product sampling, testing, and reporting processes.
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.
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.
Claire F. Ingvoldsen
Engineering Technician, Schatz Center
Claire engages with customers, develops test plans, reviews test reports, and provides general technical support for the VeraSol Program.
Jack Lucas
Research Assistant, Schatz Center
At the Schatz Center, Jack supports operations of the VeraSol Quality Assurance program, including customer communication, test report review, and management of round-robin testing for labs.
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.
Kevin Gauna
Technical Consultant
As a lighting and solar expert, Kevin provides technical support for VeraSol and contributes to technical notes.
Kimberly Thorpe
Senior 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.
Leigha Roeder
Research Engineer, Schatz Center
Leigha supports the VeraSol Project by creating test plans, reviewing test reports, customer communication, and other tasks throughout the VeraSol certification process
Lisa Kahuthu
Communications Associate, CLASP
Lisa leads all communication efforts under VeraSol, ensuring that key insights gleaned from the program are communicated effectively.
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.
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 effectively engage Chinese stakeholders and build growing recognition of the VeraSol brand in China.
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.
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.