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.
GNA
