Popularizing Off-Grid Solar Photovoltaic Standards Within the Re-gion: ECOWAS Strengthens Stakeholder Capacities In The Republic Of Guinea

REGIONAL OFF-GRID ELECTRICITY ACCESS PROJET (ROGEAP)

Some thirty participants, mainly from ministries of trade, energy, national energy and standardization structures, as well as consumers, are meeting in Conakry in the Republic of Guinea from March 25 to 26 to launch the process of popularizing off-grid solar photovoltaic standards.

This training session devoted to the popularization of off-grid solar photovoltaic standards follows their adoption at regional level (ECOSTAND IEC TS 62257-9-5 and ECOSTAND IEC TS 62257-9-8).

The main objective of this national workshop is to ensure that the standards adopted for off-grid solar products with a power rating of 350Wp or less are well known and well implemented at national level by the stakeholders.

At the end of the two-day conclave, participants will:

• Have a good understanding of quality standards for off-grid solar products and stand-alone PV kits;
• Be familiar with the definitions, quality standards and their testing methods;
• Be able to provide correct information to other relevant stakeholders about the two adopted standards and be able to raise awareness among the general public;
• Know how the two standards are to be implemented in accordance with current legislation;
• Be able to carry out conformity assessment of off-grid solar PV products (applicable to the standards), market surveillance and;
• Disseminate information to the general public.

In their presentations, the various representatives of the Ministries of Trade and Energy thanked ECOWAS for helping Guinea to implement these standards, and pledged to disseminate them widely at all levels.

ROGEAP is a project jointly funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund and the Government of the Netherlands.

It is implemented by the ECOWAS Commission through the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitization.