Earlier this year, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) CleanStart programme and the Department for International Development (DFID) supported solar component testing training at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

"Having standards, efficient testing facilities with competent technical staff, after sales services, putting in place an effective and timely mechanism for compliant handling and problem resolution will go a long way in ensuring increased use of solar products" - UNCDF

The training brought together representatives from the Uganda Revenue Authority Imports Customs Enforcement Department, UNBS electrical laboratory and the Uganda Solar Energy Association [USEA]. It's an important step towards improving the quality of solar products in the Ugandan market. The Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation [CREEC) provided technical expertise.

"The sector is suffering from counterfeit products. Fake products are among the main challenges that people have been reporting on the radio talk shows" - USEA

The training focused on solar component testing and deriving meaning from the data generated. UNCDF also provided solar panel and battery testing equipment (CADEX) to boost UNBS's testing capacity. Participants learned to use the CADEX, a machine that measures the state of health of the batteries. It does this by using parameters such as capacity, internal resistance and self-discharge.

"The [CADEX] equipment will boost our work and shorten the testing duration" - UNBS

It is hoped that this training will provide regulators the capacity they need to further improve efforts in enforcement of standards and providing quality energy products. Part of this effort requires a strong presence for USEA in self regulation and promoting compliance to product standards.

"We have 1.5 million people using solar products. We could have even 4 or 5 million. But some are reluctant because they fear to buy the fake products. If we can give them confidence then we will be able to improve the uptake of solar" - USEA

With the equipment handover completed, UNBS now has the tools and training to test the quality of solar products. With USEA promoting quality solar products and standards with its members and UNBS able to test product quality, the future of the solar market in Uganda is promising.