The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has commissioned a solar powered energy system for the agency’s air-conditioner testing centre as a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive toward energy efficiency, sustainable industrial development and quality infrastructure enhancement.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the project in Lagos on Tuesday, the Director General/CEO, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, said the project represents another significant achievement in the longstanding partnership between SON and the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), which began in 2018 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SON and Germany’s development agency, GIZ, on renewable energy and energy-efficiency standards.
According to him, the collaboration has expanded beyond standards development to include laboratory infrastructure, conformity assessment, capacity building and support for emerging sectors such as electric mobility.
Okeke disclosed that SON has developed Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy-labelling requirements for major electrical appliances, laying the foundation for a mandatory energy-labelling regime that will empower consumers and encourage the importation and production of energy-efficient products.
He described the agency’s calorimetric testing chamber for air conditioners as one of the most important outcomes of the partnership, noting that it is expected to become the first facility of its kind in Nigeria and a reference testing centre for the West African sub-region.
The SON Director-General said the newly commissioned solar installation would provide reliable and sustainable energy for the specialised facility while reducing dependence on diesel generators and significantly lowering operating costs.
He revealed that SON currently spends about N80 million annually on diesel and another N6.7 million on electricity, stressing that the renewable-energy system would help the agency conserve resources and improve operational efficiency.
“The solar panel system will provide the reliable and sustainable energy required to power this highly specialised testing facility while significantly reducing dependence on diesel generators and the high cost of alternative power supply,” he said.
Okeke added that SON intends to extend alternative power solutions to all six units within its laboratory complex as part of its long-term sustainability strategy.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, represented by Dr. Owolabi Sunday, described the project as a significant step in Nigeria’s pursuit of energy security, industrial competitiveness, climate resilience and economic transformation.
He said the 200-kilowatt photovoltaic installation demonstrates the practical application of renewable energy in powering critical public infrastructure and serves as a model for government institutions seeking to reduce costs and improve efficiency
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