Nevertheless, for these components to function optimally, their quality plays a vital role in determining their performance output. Considering this, compliance with global design and technical standards is essential to provide technologies that will be effective in providing good quality, reliable and affordable electricity access. Although countries are expected to prevent and control the production or importation of products into the market, the production of substandard and counterfeit products remains a major challenge to address in developing countries.

Considering the rapidly growing solar PV industry, both the off-grid and on-grid sectors, there is a need to develop a solid standardisation framework for components. This will allow a safer market of good quality products, increase trust and confidence of all actors in the value chain, as well as encourage investments in the sector. Working towards this goal, MEI has supported the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and collaboratively worked with the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) in the development of such standards, for five different components: Solar Photovoltaic Panels, Batteries, Inverters, Charge Controllers, and Energy Meters. 

Last but not least, MEI has conducted baseline studies to understand the market, trends, and developments, for the implementation and adoption of such standards. Finally, the adoption of higher quality standards would not be possible without a proper communication plan to all stakeholders involved. As such, MEI will continue working with SON and NESP on designing an appropriate communication strategy towards the adoption standards in the market, with the common objective to deliver affordable, reliable, and clean energy to all. 

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