By now we understand that for successful solar PV installation, it takes a combination of careful planning, training and being customer-focused.

Daphin Juma of Women in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship (WISEe ) joins us for another episode of the Africa Water and Energy Podcast to delve into important lessons for successful solar PV installations. A few of the highlights are:

* The existing roles during a site installation* Some of the lessons for successful Solar PV fieldwork* Arising challenges and solutions around gender inclusivity in the technical space*

Kenya leads the East African region when it comes to solar PV capacity. As of December 2019, the country stands at 56.25MW of installed capacity thanks to the 50MW Garissa Solar Plant commissioned in 2018. During any solar PV installation, it takes the contribution of various roles to make the whole project come together. Some of the common team roles include:

Project leader

This is the person/people in charge of logistics, public relations and procurement of materials, tools, and equipment. The leaders will also have at least one person trained in Occupational health and safety in order to be in charge of safety matters at the site.

Certified installers 

Depending on the size of the project, there will be a different requirement for the number of installers who both work and supervise others. 

Practicing Installers

These are technicians who are yet to get the full experience to be certified and practice independently. Their numbers also vary depending on the project size

Trainee(s)

For organisations like WISEe, trainees are members on practical attachment in preparation for licensing

Another key member who supports an installation team is the community liaison person or a client’s representative. This is the key contact person in matters affecting the installation project. For instance, he/she will agree with the team leader on where to install the solar PV system components. 

Practical pointers for a successful installation

Solar PV projects require keen coordination in delivering and installing the system within the agreed specification. Some of the considerations to make for teams are:

Mapping the transport route ahead of time

It’s easy to use Google Maps or one visit to make estimations. However, the situation might have changed, especially when dealing with murram roads. It is advisable to, therefore, make a final visit of the route closer to the delivery date to be sure of the road conditions. 

Having the right tools for tasks within the project scope

It is not uncommon to have remote solar PV projects. A clear plan and preparation of materials and tools will go a long way in avoiding costly downtime and increased expenses.

Other considerations include:

* Purchasing the right materials to match the solar panels and building structure* Having the proper safety gear* Reviewing the weather conditions prior to starting the installation* Locating the nearest health facility in case of emergency

Arising challenges and solutions around gender inclusivity

An observation in the industry is that even as initiatives are being put to encourage female participation, some people are still skeptical of the capability of women in installation teams.