AMP workshops bring national solar PV standards closer to the professionals responsible for equipment quality, installation and system performance.
Reliable solar photovoltaic (PV) minigrids depend not only on financing and infrastructure, but also on the quality of equipment, installation practices and compliance with technical standards. In Burkina Faso, AMP is working to strengthen awareness and application of these standards across the private sector.
On 29 September and 2 October 2026, Agence Faso Vêenem, through AMP Burkina Faso and in collaboration with the Agence Burkinabè de Normalisation, de la Métrologie et de la Qualité (ABNORM), organized two workshops for private-sector stakeholders in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. The sessions brought together more than 60 professionals working across the solar PV sector to discuss 11 national standards governing components used in solar minigrids.
Bringing Standards Closer to the Sector
The workshops targeted a broad range of professionals, including suppliers, installers, consulting firms, investors, minigrid developers and operators. Their aim was to make national standards more accessible and relevant to the realities of the sector, while strengthening participants’ understanding of how the standards can be applied in practice.
The 11 standards cover key aspects of solar PV minigrid systems, including photovoltaic modules, testing, safety, cables, energy storage and converters. Understanding and applying these standards can help sector professionals assess equipment conformity and adopt more consistent installation practices.
During the workshops, ABNORM highlighted the role of AMP Burkina Faso’s support in strengthening existing standards and developing new ones. The sessions provided an opportunity to connect this standards-development work with the professionals responsible for selecting, supplying, installing and operating solar energy systems.
Quality as a Foundation for Reliable Minigrids
The discussions underscored the importance of quality and compliance throughout the minigrid value chain. Equipment conformity and installation quality are important not only for system performance, but also for the durability of investments and confidence in the solar energy market.
Mahomed Saraba, representing ABNORM, emphasized the importance of making standards accessible and relevant to professionals. Drissa Coulibaly, Regional Director for Energy, Mines and Quarries, highlighted the relationship between equipment conformity, installation quality and the durability of investments. Roger B. Ouédraogo, Coordinator of AMP Burkina Faso, emphasized the role of standards in strengthening consumer confidence, improving solar system performance and supporting a more credible solar market.
Participants expressed interest in additional sessions and committed to sharing the information with their colleagues. This response points to the value of continued awareness-raising and engagement to support the practical adoption of national standards.
By bringing standards closer to the professionals working across Burkina Faso’s solar PV sector, AMP Burkina Faso is contributing to efforts to strengthen quality and compliance in the minigrid market. Building understanding of these standards is an important step towards more reliable systems and more durable investments in energy access.
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