A 5-day training focusing on regulatory frameworks and utility processes for the interconnection of Distributed Generation (DG) to distribution networks took place in South Africa last month. If forms part of the Policy Catalyst: Distributed Generation Window implemented by GET.transform, Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA), the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR) and the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA). The training was delivered by SEA in partnership with SunCybernetics and had ministry, regulator and electricity distribution delegates from Madagascar, Uganda, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho in attendance.
Each of the participating countries were provided with state of the art ready to use templates from which they developed draft net billing rules and utility requirement documents. These documents govern the integration of DG onto distributor networks at national and regional levels, empowering the countries to process solar customer applications for grid connection. The training wrapped up with a practical and informative site visit to the CSIR solar plant.
By strengthening technical, regulatory and institutional capacities, the initiative is set to help redefine the role of distributed solar in the African grids of the future.
Joel Nana, Project Manager leading the activity at SEA, highlights “Africa is witnessing one of the world’s fastest uptakes of distributed solar, and it’s a proud moment for us to support this transformation through the Policy Catalyst Distributed Generation Window”.
Support will continue over the coming months with modelling exercises and the development of technical standards to guide the safe and sustainable integration of DG onto the grid.
Learn more and visit the Policy Catalyst DG Window Resource Portal.
