REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy products

The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria says it has strengthened collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to enhance quality control and enforcement frameworks against fake and substandard renewable energy products.

Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, REAN’s spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that the collaboration would also involve stakeholder engagement on testing, certification, and capacity building in Nigeria.

He said the synergy would strengthen quality control and enforcement frameworks, promote policy alignment, and ensure stronger regulation across the renewable energy value chain.

“REAN reaffirms its commitment to standardisation and quality assurance. Tighter collaboration with SON is critical to eliminating fake and substandard renewable energy products from the Nigerian market.

“Enforcement and gaps in existing standards have continued to allow inferior products to circulate, undermining consumer confidence and slowing sector growth,” he said.

Mr Lloyd-Dietake said that at high-level discussions, REAN also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory coordination to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy space.

According to him, the issues include inconsistencies in standards, affordability issues linked to certification processes, and the increasing presence of substandard solar and renewable energy equipment in the country.

“The association further raised concerns about delays in product testing and approval, calling for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the system,” he said.

Mr Lloyd-Dietake urged closer collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency.

He said such teamwork would ensure harmonised standards and more effective enforcement against fake renewable energy products in the Nigerian market.

SON acknowledged REAN’s role in supporting standardisation within Nigeria’s renewable energy industry and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen collaboration with the association.

SON further confirmed that REAN would be actively involved in future standard review processes and in upcoming stakeholder engagements related to the development of renewable energy and electric mobility standards.
Mr Lloyd-Dietake said REAN was willing to formalise the partnership through a memorandum of understanding.

He said the MoU aims to deepen cooperation, promote quality assurance, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition towards reliable and standardised renewable energy solutions.