The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria has raised alarm over the growing influx of substandard renewable energy products in Nigeria, warning that poor-quality equipment could undermine the country’s clean energy transition and erode consumer confidence.
This concern took center stage during a high-level meeting between REAN and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Abuja, where both bodies pledged deeper collaboration to strengthen regulation, improve product quality, and enforce standards across Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
At the meeting, REAN stressed that standardization has become critical to the long-term sustainability and credibility of the industry, especially as solar and other renewable solutions continue to play a growing role in closing Nigeria’s electricity access gap.
The association identified major obstacles slowing sector growth, including weak enforcement of existing standards, gaps in regulatory frameworks, high compliance costs, and the widespread circulation of inferior renewable energy products in the market.
According to REAN, the persistent presence of substandard products not only threatens project performance but also discourages investment and weakens public trust in renewable energy solutions.
To tackle these challenges, REAN called for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to speed up product verification and approval processes.
The association noted that inadequate testing infrastructure often delays project execution and creates room for low-quality products to enter the market.
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REAN also pushed for stronger collaboration among key sector regulators, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency, to address outdated standards and improve market oversight.
In response, SON acknowledged REAN’s growing role in promoting quality assurance and industry best practices, while reaffirming its commitment to closer cooperation with the association.
The standards agency also confirmed that REAN will participate actively in future reviews of renewable energy standards, including upcoming stakeholder engagements focused on renewable energy and electric mobility.
As part of efforts to institutionalize the partnership, REAN disclosed plans to formalize its relationship with SON through a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at deepening cooperation in policy development, standard enforcement, and technical support.
Both organizations expressed optimism that sustained collaboration would help improve compliance, curb the spread of substandard products, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to reliable, safe, and standardized renewable energy solutions.
