KEBS ratifies new standards on Clean Energy in the country

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has approved ten (10) standards that provide specifications for systems and equipment that utilize clean energy such as solar and wind pursuant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The use of natural replenishable energy resources contribute positively to Kenya’s economy in the fight against global warming, poverty eradication and the progress of important socio-economic aspects such as health, clean water supply, industrialization and education,” says Lt Col (Rtd.) Bernard Njiraini, Managing Director, KEBS.

It is estimated that the socio-economic impact of climate change costs the country a loss of approximately 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) annually.

Some of the systems and equipment covered by the new standards include; off-grid or stand-alone renewable energy products with power ratings less than or equal to 350W popularly known as plug and play solar home systems, photovoltaic devices such as solar simulators, wind energy generation systems, concentrator photovoltaic (CPV), generators, micropower systems, small Photovoltaic Individual Electrification Systems (PVIES) among others.

The approved standards are expected to increase access to clean energy in the country and reduce the demand for coal or charcoal consumption as the main energy source for most rural households.

To access a full list of the Standards approved or confirmed by the National Standards Council in January 2021, please visit KEBS website www.kebs.org under: what we do < Standards development.>SAC approved standards or using the linkhttps://kebs.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=62:year-2020&Itemid=134

A summary of all Published Kenya Standards can be accessed on KEBS website www.kebs.org under: online services or using the link http://onlinecatalogue.kebs.org.

To access and purchase these Kenya Standards, please visit the KEBS webstore on KEBS website www.kebs.org under online services or through the following link https://webstore.kebs.org.   During the COVID-19 pandemic, KEBS is offering free access to selected Standards to interested parties, stakeholders, manufacturers and the public, for a limited access on KEBS Webstore, https://webstore.kebs.org  then by clicking on PPEs Free Standards.

Summary of Renewable Energy Standards 

• KS IEC/TS 62257-9-8:2020 Kenya Standard — Renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification — Part 9-8: Integrated systems — Requirements for stand-alone renewable energy products with power ratings less than or equal to 350 W 
• Scope: provides requirements for quality, durability and truth in advertising to protect consumers of off-grid renewable energy products. Products covered within the scope of this standard include those popularly known as plug and play solar home systems. 
• KS IEC 60904-9:2020 Kenya Standard — Photovoltaic devices — Part 9: Classification of solar simulator characteristics
• Scope: gives guidance on classifications of solar simulators for use in indoor measurements of terrestrial photovoltaic devices.
• KS IEC 61400-21-1:2019 Kenya Standard — Wind energy generation systems — Part 21-1: Measurement and assessment of electrical characteristics – Wind turbines. 
• Scope: Gives guidance on measurement and assessment of electrical characteristics of wind turbines.
• KS IEC 61400-25-4:2016 Kenya Standard — Wind energy generation systems — Part 25-4: Communications for monitoring and control of wind power plants — Mapping to communication profile. 
• Scope: Specifies on monitoring and control protocols for wind power plants; 
• KS IEC 61400-24:2019 Kenya Standard — Wind energy generation systems — Part 24: Lightning protection 
• Scope: Defines lightning protection requirements for wind turbine generators and wind power systems;
• KS IEC 62108:2016, Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules and assemblies — Design qualification and type approval
• Scope: gives minimum requirements for the design qualification and type approval of concentrator photovoltaic modules. 
• KS IEC/TS 62257-7:2017 Kenya Standard — Recommendations for renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification — Part 7: Generators.
• KS IEC/TS 62257-7-3:2018 Kenya Standard — Recommendations for renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification — Part 7-3: Generator set – Selection of generator sets for rural electrification systems.
• Scope: These two Standards give recommendations for selecting generators for use in decentralized rural electrification systems.
• KS IEC/TS 62257-9-1:2016 Kenya Standard — Recommendations for renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification — Part 9-1: Integrated systems — Micropower systems 
• Scope: Give recommendations for the design, erection and operation of micropower plants and general requirements to ensure the safety of persons and property.  
• KS IEC/TS 62257-9-6:2019 Kenya Standard — Renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification — Part 9-6: Integrated systems — Recommendations for selection of Photovoltaic Individual Electrification Systems (PV-IES). 
• Scope: Provides recommendations on selection of the most suitable model of small Photovoltaic Individual Electrification Systems (PVIES) up to 500 Wp for a particular rural electrification project from a number of products submitted for test.
• KS ISO 9060:2019 Kenya Standard — Solar energy — Specification and classification of instruments for measuring hemispherical solar and direct solar radiation. 
• Scope: Establishes a classification and specification of instruments for the measurement of hemispherical solar and direct solar radiation integrated over the spectral range from approximately 0,3 μm to about 3 μm to 4 μm.