21-23 Nov, 2011, The Energy Center (TEC) joined international experts in Golden, Colorado in the United States to discuss international technical cooperation in Renewable Energy Technologies.
The event was organized by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and hosted by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
TEC was represented by Mr David Ato Quansah, who is the coordinator of the World Bank SolarCUP project. The workshop discussed “Best Practices in International Renewable Energy Technology Cooperation” and drew participants from key institutions around the world to make input into IRENA’s work programme, drawing on their unique country/regional experiences.
Mr Quansah spoke on “RE Partnership among higher educational institutions in Ghana and Burkina Faso”, drawing on experience between KNUST and its Ouagadougou-based partner, the International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE). The two institutions, drawing on each other’s strength have jointly raised the equivalent of approximately US$ 1.6 million in 3 years for renewable energy projects. These projects include the Renewable Energy Education Project (REEP) with funding from the EDULINK Programme of the EU-ACP Secretariat, and the Solar Capacity Upgrading Project (SolarCUP) which is supported by the World Bank.
Citing the example of the ECOWAS Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), Mr Quansah recommended among others that IRENA works closely with regional/sub-regional bodies where they exist and also with targeted centers of excellence around the world.
The opening session was addressed by Dolf Gielen Director, of the IRENA Innovation and Technology Center and Michio Hashimoto Senior Project Officer, IRENA. At the concluding session, the organizers expressed gratitude to participants for responding to the invitation and making very important inputs during the workshop, and expressed hope that the experts will continue to support IRENA to deliver on its mandate.
Participants were conducted round NREL’s research laboratories and facilities on the last day of the workshop.
To download a copy of TEC’s presentation at the event click here.
To visit IRENA’s website, please click here
To visit NREL’s website click here