Arba Minch University

Arba Minch University (AMU) along with its partners Starts Two Weeks Advanced Solar Training for Staff and PhD Students

Arba Minch University (AMU) along with its partners Sahay Solar Association and HSLU Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts has started two weeks advanced solar training for staff and PhD students from Switzerland and AMU and personnel from stakeholder industries.

Teklu Wegayehu (PhD), VP for AMU Research and Cooperation Office, opening the training and student exchange program and welcoming the participants, said, AMU Renewable Energy Technology Research Center, one of the research centers in AMiT, coordinates researches on government’s focus area of renewable energy to harness the true potential for new, greener approach that guarantees preservation of the ecosystem. The Research Center has good experience on solar energy and domestic bio-digester and it has been running Sahay Solar Project to electrify 23 rural health centers and 15 primary and secondary schools in off-grid rural areas of Gamo and Gofa Zones and Arba Minch University Solar Competence Center along with Sahay Solar Association Africa e.v, Germany, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland/SUPSI/, Arba Minch University and former Gamo - Gofa Zone Administration through its community engagement from 2009 to2020, he noted.

Giving an overview on our experience on domestic bio-digester, Dr. Teklu said that the collaborative project with two partners, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Region Mines and Energy Agency and AMU, is working to install 250 domestic biogas digesters in the region and Arba Minch Zuriya, Merab Abaya, Kucha, Chencha and Gerese districts of Gamo Zone. He finally remarked that the same experience is being extended to Pico Hydropower Project at Kemba Zuriya district and today’s advanced solar training is also part of such endeavors and I strongly encourage you all to actively engage in the various course sessions and discussions on topics to be presented in two weeks’ time.

Muluneh Lemma (PhD), AMiT Scientific Director, welcoming the participants to the training, noted that the start of the advanced solar training initiative dates back to more than 10 years and the collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of the Southern Switzerland/ SUPSI/ brought about the birth of Sahay Solar. Having two major objectives of capacity building and electrifying remote off-grid rural schools and health centers by PV techs, the project has executed life changing and impactful installations to positively affect education and public health systems, he said.

The AMiT Scientific Director also remarked that the continual of such trainings for more than a decade long years signifies that we haven’t paused from our focus which we stipulated since long. Acknowledging the efforts of Sahay and SUPSI team especially Prof. Rudy, Prof. Roger, Jonas and Max Pohl, he appreciated their sustained commitment to maintain solar projects and yearly trainings.

Yalisho Girma (PhD), AMU Renewable Energy Technology Research Center Director, giving details of the training said the two trainers Prof. Roger Buser and Prof. Dr. Jonas Muehlethaler are from HSLU Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Sahay Solar and the three trainers Dr. Muluneh Lemma, Dr. Yalisho Girma and Samuel Kefale are from AMU; they are taking schedules for course contents of two weeks long training. He also noted that the trainees include 25 internist students from Switzerland, 10 students from AMU and 16 PG and UG academic staff members from AMU and 5 industry personnel in total 56 participants are taking part in. After the theoretical presentations and sufficient exercising and discussions, the trainees are required to take a two-hour written exam and must score minimum expectation marks in their exam to be certified and their also be hands-on activities as well, he assured.