As part of the ongoing collaboration between KNUST and the German State of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), a workshop has been held in Kumasi to outline areas of collaboration in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The workshop brought together energy experts from KNUST, Ministry of Energy and Energy Commission Ghana, Technical University of Dortmund and University of Applied Sciences in Gerlsinkerchen, Germany.
The workshop took place from 22 – 24 January 2013 at The Energy Center, KNUST.
The workshop which was facilitated by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) was to enable experts at KNUST and their German counterparts to discuss areas of research cooperation and staff development opportunities.
Officials from State energy institutions participated in the workshop and included: Prof. Thomas Akabzaa (Chief Director, Ministry of Energy), Mr. Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo (Director of Renewables, Ministry of Energy) and Mr Michael Opam of the Energy Commission.
In the opening session, Prof Abeeku Brew-Hammond, Director of the TEC gave an overview of the Center’s structure (organogram) and briefed participants on various projects and activities at the Center. Other presentations were made, to give overview of research activities and expertise in the respective institutions, as well as the national energy situation in Ghana.
The German State of North Rhine Westphalia has since 2008 supported KNUST in renewable energy research, with the installation of a 4 kWp grid-connected system. It is proposed to expand the cooperation to include the conversion of KNUST’s power supply to renewable energy sources, Mr David Ato Quansah, a Fellow of TEC, made a presentation on strategies for the power conversion, in which he summarized views from a stakeholders’ forum organized earlier in the month. Mr. Bernd Wolff of Energiebau Solarstromsysteme GmbH presented the preliminary findings of a feasibility study on 1-2 MW Grid-connected Solar PV system at KNUST as consultant as engaged by GIZ.
Other experts who participated in the workshop included: Prof. Ralf Holzhauer, Prof. Karin Kückelhaus, Prof. Andreas Wichtmann, Thomas Nierhoff (all of Westfälische Hochschule University of Applied Science in Gelsenkirchen); Prof. Johanna Myrzik, Technical University of Dortmund and Dr. Heike Edelmann-Okinda of DAAD Ghana.
Local experts came from the Departments of Agricultural Engineering (Dr Ahmad Addo and Mr Joseph Akowuah), Chemical Engineering (Dr Lawrence Darkwah), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Mr Emmanuel Anto), Computer Engineering (Dr Emmanuel Akowuah and Mr Joseph Nuamah), Mechanical Engineering (Dr Lena Mensah), Geomatic Engineering (Prof Allan Duker) and the Center for Business Development (Mr Ralph Nyedu-Addo).
At the end of the workshop, courtesy calls were paid on the Provost of the College of Engineering (Prof I.K. Ampadu) and the Vice Chancellor of the University (Prof William Otoo-Ellis). A reciprocal visit is planned for early February.
To download copies of presentation, please click here.