Govt sets up committee for renewable energy

THE Ministry of Mines and Energy has set up a national committee to set standards and develop certification processes for products and services in the field of renewable energy.

Launching the committee in Windhoek on Friday, Joseph Iita, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, said this step was necessary to ensure the quality of renewable energy products like solar water geysers, water pumps or solar panels and – at a later stage – even wind turbines. “In establishing a product certification system, the purpose is to demonstrate to the markets and the regulator that a supplier or service provider can and does produce products or render services in conformity with a normative document,” Iita said.”The National Technical Committee on Renewable Energy (NTCRE) is comprised of different stakeholders to ensure impartiality.”Clement Daniels, the legal adviser to the Namibia Standards Institution (NSI), said his institution was recognised as the country’s official standards body.”The NSI can offer its technical expertise regarding standardisation and certification to ensure safe products and safe, reliable renewable system installations according to internationally recognised standards,” Daniels said.The NTCRE secretariat will be run from the offices of the REEEI, which is housed at the Polytechnic of Namibia.”In establishing a product certification system, the purpose is to demonstrate to the markets and the regulator that a supplier or service provider can and does produce products or render services in conformity with a normative document,” Iita said.”The National Technical Committee on Renewable Energy (NTCRE) is comprised of different stakeholders to ensure impartiality.”Clement Daniels, the legal adviser to the Namibia Standards Institution (NSI), said his institution was recognised as the country’s official standards body.”The NSI can offer its technical expertise regarding standardisation and certification to ensure safe products and safe, reliable renewable system installations according to internationally recognised standards,” Daniels said.The NTCRE secretariat will be run from the offices of the REEEI, which is housed at the Polytechnic of Namibia.