EU, GIZ donates 200kW solar facility to SON

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By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

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The European Union, EU, has donated a 200kW solar PV power system to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON.

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Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Lagos, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, said the EU and Germany have been working closely with SON to deliver the solar project.

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According to him, the EU has been supporting SON to develop innovations that improve energy performance in Nigeria, adding that the donation reflects its continued partnership with the agency.

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Luca said that SON is a critical partner in domestic trade and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s energy transition plan. Also speaking at the event, Head of Development at the German Embassy, Dr. Karin Jansen, said the commissioning reflects efforts to create an enabling environment for businesses to become more resilient.

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“We are building strong bridges between both countries, as this facility will help SON verify energy performance standards. It is also an opportunity to strengthen the next phase of Nigeria’s energy future,” she said.

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Earlier, Director-General of SON, Mr. Ifeanyi Okeke, described the project as another milestone in the longstanding partnership between SON and the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP).

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He described the partnership as a collaboration that has continued to strengthen Nigeria’s quality infrastructure in support of sustainable energy.

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He noted that the partnership began in 2018 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SON and GIZ for the development and implementation of renewable energy and energy-efficiency standards.

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According to him, the collaboration has since expanded beyond standards development to include laboratory infrastructure, conformity assessment, capacity building, and support for emerging sectors such as electric mobility.

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Okeke disclosed that, with NESP’s support, SON has developed Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy labelling requirements for key electrical appliances, paving the way for a mandatory energy-labelling scheme.

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“This initiative will empower consumers to make informed choices while ensuring that only energy-efficient products gain access to the Nigerian market,

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“When fully operational, it will be the first facility of its kind in Nigeria and a reference testing centre for the West African sub-region.

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“On average, we spend close to N80 million on diesel annually and about N6.7 million on electricity. This is money we can save by having an alternative energy source,” he said.

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“As an agency that is not primarily revenue-generating, whatever money we can save will be very helpful.”

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