Solar energy company building local capacity to expand sustainable energy use in Somalia

Solar energy penetration across Africa continent is rapidly gaining momentum. In East Africa, the government’s favorable policy environment has helped to make investment viable as compared to other parts of Africa where high taxes and subsidies on alternative energy like kerosene continue to create barriers.

The off-grid solar segment combines an array of benefits, from health and environment, local employment to social benefits as well as providing clean energy to millions of homes and businesses. These positive benefits created by solar energy are enablers of good synergy between the companies in the sector and policymakers.

Somalia is taking her rightful position to take advantage of the sun experienced across the country throughout the year. Companies like SECCCO based in Garowe Puntland have positioned themselves and are moving in the right direction as far as renewable energy is concerned.

They offer reliable clean and cheap access to energy giving stability for businesses to thrive. After all, those connected to the grid have to deal with frequent power cuts and relatively high electricity costs.

It is in line with that SECCCO partnered with UNDP Somalia, Somalia government, Shoqodoon Organization to offer training to 384 youths from across the country on Solar and maintenance skills thereby creating employment and bridging the gap in regards to energy access to homes and businesses across various federal states.

On Tuesday, 184 trainees under the Joint Program on Youth Employment Somalia (JPYES) graduated in Mogadishu having undergone intensive training on solar energy and maintenance. The trainees are competent enough to provide much needed technical skills in the solar energy sector and advance the adoption of solar energy in Somalia.

The growth of off-grid solar business continues to be a major employer as a bigger percentage of Somalis don’t have access to power and continue to rely on environmentally harmful energy sources such as fossil fuel.

Moreover, electricity costs in Somalia remain prohibitively high-rated one of the highest in the world with a kilowatt of electricity going for up to $1.

“The hundreds of young people graduating from across the country after six months extensive training is a clear indication of our commitment at SECCCO to engage in job creation activities while actively bridging the gap and powering our homes and businesses across Somalia,” SECCCO Business Development Manager  Said Mohamoud commented.

With this training, SECCCO hopes to expand and go to the last mile by engaging with various companies to offer Pay-As-You-Go model which enables home system solutions affordable to everyone by allowing them to pay over time.

“Seccco is growing rapidly by tapping into the existing technology for solar power generation, storage and with efficiency; we will continue to engage our partners to bring into the market efficient technology and appliances that can be powered by solar “Said Mohamoud said.

Studies have shown that off-grid industry continue to generate thousands of jobs across Africa and in Somalia the sector is projected to grow rapidly through such initiatives as Joint Program on Youth Employment Somalia(JPYES).

“Our plan is to impact the people of Somalis socially by creating jobs for the youth and enable upgrade millions of homes so that they can enjoy the benefits by transforming their off-grid homes and businesses to solar-powered homes.