Quality assurance, skilling emphasized at this year's solar expo

The need for stronger quality assurance and widening skilling of solar technicians has been underscored at the annual solar expo in Kampala.

Officials regulating the sector and in particular from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development were categorical on these two fronts.

“ This has been a wonderful occasion bringing together sector players and users. But it is important to ensure that the quality of solar accessories being brought into the country is of standard,” Eng. Elizabeth Kaijuka, a Principal Energy Officer in the renewable energy department at the Ministry stated.

She revealed that “we have since streamlined our guidelines to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards on scrutiny of solar equipment being imported and sold in the country.”

"The solar sector is the most thriving today in terms of 38% of those who are off grid but accessing this type of energy. Solarizing now is private sector lead and we are keen on partnerships with the private sector in order to sustain this growth.”

On the need to match the current demand with a higher level of skills linked to installation and maintenance, the Ministry of Energy re-echoed that certification of trainees across the country will be intensified.

“We are equally keen on growing the numbers of skilled solar technicians so that we match supply of equipment, demand by the larger segment of the population and indeed competencies on installation and maintenance,” Eng, Kaijuka stressed.

She recognised private sector lead efforts in training such as the Sendea Academy, pointing out that their role in bridging the skills deficit in Uganda, will continue strengthening the solar energy value chain.

“ Private sector organisations which are currently training our young people such as Sendea, ought to double their efforts in partnership with development partners that we endorse. It’s a mutual effort for us within the renewable energy sector,” She explained.

According to Robinah Nanyunja, the Chief Executive Officer, of the Uganda Solar Energy Association, over 200 companies are currently involved in importation and distribution of solar equipment.

“The sector is growing and we are seeing continuous improvement on the quality of equipment being imported and sold on the market. We are also encouraging our members to work hard on the issue of skilling their sales and marketing teams; but more so the solar installation technicians,” Nanyunja emphasised.

The Uganda Solar Energy Association has also recognized Sendea Association, as the best organisation in skilling in the country.

“This is a firm acknowledgement of our efforts in training and skilling as many young solar technicians as possible. We are going to scale up on our training in particular young women. We need as many as possible on board so that the pool of qualified solar installation technicians can expand,” Loy Kyozaire, the CEO of Sendea Association stated.

She revealed that having trained over 1,000 solar technicians in the last few years, there are plan by the triple the numbers over the next 3 years, a commitment she noted will contribute towards meeting some of the global targets.

“We are very grateful about this awards and it rhymes with indicator 7 of sustainable development goals on accessing to quality education. It has come in s joint effort with our partners such as with GIZ, Stiftung, USEA, UNREA and the Ministry of Energy among others,” Eng. Kyozaire said.

On immediate plans aimed at improving on the volume of skilled personnel to save the new users of off grid power such as solar, Kyozaire, cited “many hard to reach areas also need well trained end-user support here I mean technicians to ensure accurate equipment are obtained, installed and maintained. People must get value for the little money they spend on buying and owning solar equipment.”

Some of the apprentices under the Sendea Academy such as Joseph Nsadhu, revealed  that they easily securing assignments from many people who are interested in installing solar lights within their homes.

“I trained with Sendea as a solar installation technician, I can verify the quality of solar equipment, I can size and install any equipment be it for lighting or productive use such as irrigation,” Nsadhu disclosed.

Some international actors in the renewable energy space such as Mussa Ibrahim from Tanzania based AG Energies, encouraged that the greater East Africa and its favourable weather makes it very attractive for investments in solar energy.

“These young people that we are training at the moment really have a bright future ahead in the renewable energy sector. Besides their skills, future maintenance of these equipment means that they will always have something to keep them busy,” Mussa noted.

“But also for domestic and commercial users of solar, their quality of lives continues to improve by the day, including to sell some of their excess power to others in the not so distant future,” he observed.