Deng Solar Energy Training Centre Seeks Accreditation

Accra, Dec. 9, GNA - Deng Solar Energy training centre has applied for accreditation from Institute for Sustainable Power (ISP) to run training programmes in solar energy.

In this connection, the auditor of the Institute, Ms.Zhu Li was in the country to assess the facility that had been put in place to facilitate the running of the courses.

The visit came at a time when Deng was running training programmes on designing of solar systems for graduates of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and some Polytechnic Students drawn from Sunyani and Kumasi.

Ms Zhu was impressed about the high level of training at the Centre but said a lot of preparation was required in the area of international quality policies, technical training and material and practical hardware qualities, which Deng has been undertaking. She lauded the Chairman of Deng for the training initiative. Meanwhile, the business community has been urged to lend support to the development of the solar energy sector because government alone Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after a training workshop held at the Centre for Solar Technicians, Mr Isaac Adjei Edwin, Senior Trainer and also a Lecturer at the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, said the private sector needed to complement government's role by helping establish standards and guidelines to facilitate the growth of the sector. He said the current trend, in which all shades of solar energy equipment were imported into the country without standards and guidelines did not augur well for the development of the sector, adding that benchmarks were essential in engendering improvements that stakeholders seek in the sector.

Over 20 polytechnic and university students as well as technicians of the Ghana Health Service took part in the training programme aimed to enhance their capacities in installation and maintenance of solar PVC systems. Mr Edwin said a clear-cut policy that saw solar energy as a means of poverty alleviation must be adopted to allow for government support and interventions, especially in the rural communities that were not served by the national grid.

Other efforts by government should include a reduction in import duty on solar panels and other components to make the cost affordable. Mr Fred Bosteen, Chairman of Deng Limited, said the Deng PV Solar Training Centre was established to organize technical training courses on stand alone power systems and it is being co-financed by DEG, a German Government financial Institution.

A Memorandum of Understanding had also been signed with KNUST for training of engineering students in solar systems. The training which is being carried out by an accredited ISP Master Trainer from Global Sustainable Energy Solutions of Australia over a two-year period would train about 150 persons. Local trainers are being trained to ensure the sustainability of the Training at the Centre.

So far over 100 people, including students from the Polytechnics, KNUST and private stakeholders have been trained in installations, maintenance and design of the systems. Mr. Bosteen said deploying solar energy, especially in the rural communities would help raise standards, improve educational standards, create local employment and help to alleviate poverty. 09 Dec. 09