A New Standard for Safer Energy Infrastructure

As Kenya expands renewable energy and modern construction projects, battery systems and energy hardware play a critical role in both temporary and permanent installations. A recent review of Nairobi’s renewable energy projects highlighted challenges in ensuring quality and safety of imported battery components, some of which lacked clear certification or traceable origin. GS1 standards help address this issue. By assigning a Global Trade Item Number to each battery or component and encoding serial numbers, production data and manufacturer details in a two-dimensional barcode, contractors can ensure that only verified and compliant components are installed.

The Global Location Number identifies warehouses, storage sites and installation locations, ensuring each component’s journey is tracked. The Serial Shipping Container Code manages movement of pallets and crates containing multiple units, reducing the risk of lost or mixed shipments. With this traceability, construction companies and energy project operators in Kenya can enhance safety, comply with regulations, prevent fraud and ensure that their projects are completed efficiently and with verified hardware.