Page 30 - Energize March 2022

NEWS

Dedicated solar training computer laboratory and purpose-built
The centre comprises classrooms, a

centre inaugurated training roofs where students get a real
feel for installing an actual solar system
onto a roof. Students will be schooled
in PV basics, planning (manually and
epresentatives of Ghana’s solar industry and international partners of the Takoradi with PV*SOL premium), installation,
Technical University, inaugurated the new Solar Training Centre and launched the operation, maintenance and costing, as
R3-week Solar Planner Course for students. The Solar Power Training Centre is a well as payback periods, all with a strong
permanent facility dedicated to solar photovoltaic training and improving the employment focus on practical application.
prospects of its graduates. On completion, they will have
TTU and its international partners, GREEN Solar Academy and Valentin Software GmbH, the opportunity to intern with local
also launched the 3-week Photovoltaic Planner training programme for TTU graduates and installation companies, many of whom
final year students. The inauguration was followed by a stakeholder workshop attended by have already signed pledges and Letters
leaders in the country’s solar energy industry, as well as representatives from many of the of Intent demonstrating their support for
international partners involved in the creation of the centre. the initiative.
The Solar Training Centre at TTU will offer practical solar training tailored to the Prof. Maame Afua Nkrumah, Dean of
experience of the applicants and the demands of the local PV industry in Ghana. To this International Programmes and External
end, the centre has been equipped with the latest equipment and course material available Linkages Office (IPELO) at TTU, explains
worldwide. the importance of this facility for the
GREEN Solar Academy and Valentin Software GmbH supported TTU with the training youth at the university, saying: “Ghana
development so that students can now benefit from the international experience in training is a country with a high number of
and PV system simulation of the two companies. graduates, high unemployment among
Although the handover and commissioning of the centre took place in December 2021, the youth and high levels of solar
the inauguration now officially presents the centre to the Ghanaian solar industry and the irradiation – the Solar Training Centre at
international project partners. TTU and the internship programme that
Vivian Bluemel, Technical Director of GREEN Solar Academy, one of the initiators of the follows becomes a sustainable channel
project, says, “Universities can contribute significantly to a prosperous industry by adapting to turn challenges into opportunities that
trends early. By supporting young students to establish themselves in the solar industry, TTU will benefit both the individual and the
is definitely on the right track because solar energy is a trend that is going to stay.” industry at large.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the inauguration, Dr Enoch Yeboah Agyepong, The inauguration was followed by a
Director of the Renewable Energy Association of Ghana (REAG), said, “I desire to see learners stakeholder workshop, which brought
who are unafraid to go to the lab and play around with the equipment. There are students together solar industry bodies and key
who do not know how to handle equipment, so let’s use this programme and the internship role players in a discussion on how to
to give more depth to their learning”. shape the partnership with TTU, to
After the official opening, the guests were invited on a tour through the new facilities promote PV training and internship
where B-Tech graduates and final year engineering students exploring a career in solar opportunities for the youth in the long-
energy will be able to enrol for a 3-week training course in all facets of solar system design term and make it a beneficial experience
and installation. for students and companies.
Many of the participants of the
workshop are already members of Solar
Hub West Africa, a loose network of
African and European solar companies
cooperating to promote renewable
energy in West Africa.
The training centre and internship
programme that follows were made
possible due to the joint efforts of TTU
and two leading players in the solar
energy industry, GREEN Solar Academy
and Valentin Software. Financial
support has been realised thanks to the
German Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Local support in the form of state-

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