ECOWAS Adopts New Regional Quality Standard for Solar Energy KitsECOWAS Adopts New Regional Quality Standard for Solar Energy KitsOn March 30th, the Industry Ministers of the Economic Community West African States (ECOWAS) approved a new regional quality standard for solar energy kits up to 350 watts.The new standard is aligned with the International Electrotechnical Commission standard IEC TS 62257-9-8, which is a requirement for solar energy kits to be VeraSol certified. This development is expected to improve the quality of solar energy products and increase access to energy in all 15 ECOWAS member states.The adoption of this regional standard will also eliminate technical barriers to trade, create stronger quality assurance frameworks, and facilitate a more coherent incentive structure.VeraSol’s team of policy experts has been providing technical assistance to ECOWAS and ECREEE (the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency) throughout the process of adopting the regional quality standard. Our support for quality assurance in the region is funded by the World Bank’s ROGEAP Project, which also provides a platform for VeraSol to continue delivering technical assistance to key stakeholders as they leverage the standards to promote market growth and energy access.Our team is currently conducting a comprehensive train-the-trainers workshop for ECREEE. The workshop aims to empower ECREEE to provide technical assistance to member states to spearhead the development of a regional quality assurance framework for solar equipment. To further enhance our efforts, our team of policy experts will also accompany ECREEE staff in delivering three capacity-building events for standards bureaus, rural electrification agencies, and other key stakeholders from across the ECOWAS member states.Together, ECREEE and VeraSol are committed to engaging all stakeholders to facilitate robust and harmonised quality assurance infrastructure in the region. This initiative represents a crucial step towards promoting sustainable energy practices and achieving universal access to clean and reliable energy for all.See more on this from ECREEE.More Articles Revised Test Methods and Standards for Solar Energy Kits Submission to IECVeraSol is currently in the process of submitting revised versions of the test methods and standards for off-grid solar energy kits for review by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Learn More Harmonising Quality Assurance for Solar Energy Kits in the ECOWAS RegionIn early 2022, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted IEC test methods and quality standards for solar energy kits. To support standard implementation efforts in the region, the VeraSol team delivered a series of regional capacity-building workshops in Nigeria, Togo, Niger, and Ghana in April and May 2023. Learn More Papua New Guinea Adopts IEC Quality Standards for Solar Energy KitsIn April 2023, Papua New Guinea adopted the IEC quality standard and test methods for solar energy kits up to 350 watts. VeraSol worked closely with the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT) and other key stakeholders to facilitate the adoption of the national quality standards for solar energy kits. Learn More