ECOWAS CERTIFICATION OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SKILLS (ECSES) SCHEME’s EXAMINATION FOR OFF-GRID SOLAR PV TECHNICIANS (LEVEL 1)

The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in cooperation with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has established an ECSES scheme for the training and certification of sustainable energy skills. The ECSES scheme is currently focusing on the training and certification technicians of simple off-grid PV systems technicians, but will gradually be developed to cover technicians of more complex off-grid and grid-connected PV systems as well as other RE and EE professionals.

In this sense, ECREEE together with its partners has scheduled a competency-based examination for the certification of off-grid solar PV systems technicians in Senegal at L’Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP) of Dakar from 15th to 18th January, 2019. Candidates that will be successful in the examinations that will be hosted at ESP or other selected partner examination centres in ECOWAS each member state will be awarded credentials by The ECOWAS Certification Body of Sustainable Energy Skills. Inexperienced persons that want to be certified will be trained in partner training centres (selected by ECREEE any ECOWAS member state of preference. 

Benefits:

ECSES Scheme Certifications are earned by demonstrating your training, experience, and passing a competency-based and rigorous examination. The ECSES Certifications positively impact your career by giving:

1. The candidate

• Increased marketability, an ECOWAS acknowledged training courses and certification;
• Enhanced skills, reputation, credibility, & consumer confidence;
• Mobility, the certification credentials that provides the “passport” to national and regional sustainable energy project,  recognition and professional competitive advantage and job market in the ECOWAS region;

2. The industry

• availability of competent and efficient workforce;
• increased credibility and confidence to the clean technology by the potential investors (better system performance and reduced risks);
• satisfied customers (efficient installations, less technical failures, lower operational costs).

The rationale is that for a successful development of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) market, there is a need for quality assurance at various levels. This includes quality assurance of equipment e.g. through the establishment and enforcement of product standards. However, high-quality products that will be permitted into the ECOWAS region will only provide the desired services if these products or projects are designed, installed and maintained by highly qualified individuals. Certification gives the reassurance that technicians and professionals have the competencies and capacities required to complete an installation or a job safely and effectively. Certification requires (i) regular training that forces the practitioner to stay current, and (ii) work on multiple types of jobs, learn new skills, and network with peers. More specifically, the certification is a way to promote the quality and safety of RE and EE systems.

To gain the regional certification expertise, competency and disciplines that meet international standards and worldwide best practice check the scheduled training and examination date in your country.  The process to certification is shown below.

Current Schedule

Country: Senegal

Venue: L’Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Dakar

To register for the currently scheduled examination in Senegal, kindly visit http://www.esp.sn/

Upcoming Schedule

Country: Ghana

Venue: The Brew-Hammond Energy Centre, Kumasi

To register for the upcoming examination in Ghana, kindly visit https://energycentre.knust.edu.gh/