Friday, March 29, 2024

Government rushes to kill use of solar energy by Kenyans

Solar Use in Kenya: The government is not pleased that there is wide usage of solar energy in Kenya. This displeasure has now led it to institute punitive terms for the sector. These terms will definitely see the use of solar energy fall.

According to a report that was published in the Saturday Nation, a Kenyan will need a bachelor’s degree or three courses in engineering to operate as a solar power technician. In addition, a technician must obtain a licence from the authority in order to design, install, commission or repair a solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

“The permits are granted, based on the capacity of the system to be installed. Licence classes STI, ST2 and ST3 are for systems with a capacity of not more than 400 watts, 2kW, and 50kW respectively. Only a technician with a class ST4 licence will be allowed to install solar grids of any capacity,” the report said.

These directives are among the measure contained in proposals by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra).

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“The Draft Energy (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) Regulations, 2020 seek to make it a harder and more expensive to manufacture, import, install or maintain solar components and systems and make consumers stick to the expensive and unreliable national power grid,” the report in the weekend paper said.

The proposal by the energy regulator further says that technicians for basic solar grids must have completed primary school. They will also need to have additional training certification in electrical and solar PV systems.

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Technicians in the second category will need to have completed secondary school. They will also need to have a training in electronics and solar energy systems. “A bachelor’s degree is a must if you want to make a career out of installing solar grids. You will also need relevant experience in electrical engineering,” the report said.

For contractors to import or sell solar PV components, they will need to obtain classes SC1, SC2, SC3, SC4 and SM licences from the regulator for grids not exceeding 400w, 2kW, 50kW respectively.

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“Importers with class SC4 permits will be allowed to sell and install any solar grid system. Only those with a class SM licences will be allowed to import parts that are used to manufacture solar PV components and systems. Solar technicians will part with Sh. 2,250 to Sh. 6,000 in order to get and renew their licences, while contractors will pay Sh. 3,000 to Sh. 6,000,” the report said. “The contractors must take insurance policies of between Sh. 1 million and Sh. 10 million. Solar operators will be slapped with a daily fine of Sh. 10,000 if they delay to renew their licences, Sh. 20,000 if they do not issue a completion certificate for a project and the same amount for failing to provide a warranty for installation.”

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