[kictanet] Government moves to stop use of solar energy

Mark Elkins mje at posix.co.za
Wed Dec 2 17:34:13 EAT 2020


I think this (No "simple" Solar) has more to do with "job/revenue 
protection" - I mean - if many people had solar PV panels and didn't 
need energy from the Grid - who would then buy electricity? Of course, 
if the Electricity Company installs lots of PV and then sells that 
electricity to consumers - no problem! (tongue in cheek)...

Any reasonable electrician can re-arrange an electric board for solar 
power, add an inverter, PV's, batteries - etc. I've actually done this 
myself (in South Africa) using Victron equipment (Victron Multiplus 
48/5000/70). I have just under 10KWh of LiFePO4 batteries - which can 
last a good 8 hours. I'm not off-grid yet - need more PV panels - which 
will only happen with a roof change (I currently have thatch). I then 
paid an electrician to come inspect it and provide a Certificate of 
Compliance (CoC). His only modification was to add some safety stickers.

The future looks bleak in South Africa. Most electricity is produced 
here by burning coal. There are too many fingers in the (money) pie who 
don't want to see change. We need good leaders to move us away to 
greener energy and renewable systems - e.g. Electric Cars, Electricity 
from Solar PV/Wind - etc.

On 12/2/20 3:13 PM, awatila--- via kictanet wrote:
>
> It’s really disappointing
>
> We are also having some policy conflict as there was another 
> government policy that required houses to install solar
>
> Regards,
>
> Alex
>
> *From:*kictanet 
> <kictanet-bounces+awatila=yahoo.co.uk at lists.kictanet.or.ke> *On Behalf 
> Of *Alice Munyua via kictanet
> *Sent:* Sunday, November 29, 2020 12:13 AM
> *To:* awatila at yahoo.co.uk
> *Cc:* Alice Munyua <alice at munyua.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Government moves to stop use of solar energy
>
> Seriously! We can not get a break.
>
>
>
>     On Nov 28, 2020, at 14:03, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet
>     <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>     <mailto:kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>> wrote:
>
>     
>
>     https://nation.africa/kenya/business/epra-races-to-strangle-solar-use-3212238?view=htmlamp&__twitter_impression=true
>     <https://nation.africa/kenya/business/epra-races-to-strangle-solar-use-3212238?view=htmlamp&__twitter_impression=true>
>
>     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.
>
>     You will need a bachelor’s degree or three courses in engineering
>     to operate as a solar power technician, if the new guidelines
>     drafted by the energy regulator are implemented.
>
>     The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) has
>     introduced a raft of punitive rules that could stifle the mass
>     switch to cheap solar power by ordinary Kenyans and heavy
>     consumers that has left Kenya Power in financial difficulties.
>
>     According to the regulations, 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.
>
>     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.
>
>     Solar technicians will part with Sh2,250 to Sh6,000 in order to
>     get and renew their licences, while contractors will pay Sh3,000
>     to Sh6,000.
>
>     The contractors must take insurance policies of between Sh1
>     million and Sh10 million.
>
>     Solar operators will be slapped with a daily fine of Sh10,000 if
>     they delay to renew their licences, Sh20,000 if they do not issue
>     a completion certificate for a project and the same amount for
>     failing to provide a warranty for installation.
>
>     Epra said regulating the industry would ensure solar components
>     and systems meet approved standards.
>
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-- 

Mark James ELKINS  -  Posix Systems - (South) Africa
mje at posix.co.za       Tel: +27.826010496 <tel:+27826010496>
For fast, reliable, low cost Internet in ZA: https://ftth.posix.co.za 
<https://ftth.posix.co.za>

Posix SystemsVCARD for MJ Elkins

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