The Energy Center (TEC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana and the German State of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) have agreed to expand cooperation in the area of Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE). 

NRW has since 2008 supported KNUST in RE research with the donation of a 4 kWp grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System, installed at the College of Engineering.

This current phase of cooperation will involve a number of initiatives which are aimed at enhancing KNUST’s capacity for the implementation of RE and EE technologies in Ghana. 

Among the initiatives proposed are:

• Conversion of the power supply at KNUST to renewable, starting with a 1 – 2 MW solar PV project, and 

• The establishment of collaboration between KNUST and universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. 

The project is expected to further enhance the quality of training at the College of Engineering and strengthen postgraduate engineering degree programmes in renewable technologies. This would also create a basis for a dedicated collaboration between universities in North Rhine-Westphalia and KNUST (collaboration has already been established with TU Dortmund University in the field of regional planning).

The project which is expected to last between 3-5years is managed by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ). The role of GIZ includes bringing together all the partners and also commissioning (following a tender process) an institute or a consortium to carry out a feasibility study. GIZ has already engaged the services of a consultant (Energiebau Solarstromsysteme GmbH) to conduct a full feasibility study for a 1-2 MW grid-connected solar PV system for KNUST. Two other consultants have been engaged, one to develop a strategy for the conversion of KNUST’s power to renewable, and another to facilitate the linkage between KNUST and universities in NRW. 

As part of the collaboration, a stakeholders’ workshop has been scheduled for 22 – 24 January 2013 at the College of Engineering, KNUST. This will bring together both Ghanaian and German stakeholders in the project to discuss additional details of the collaboration. A reciprocal visit to Germany is planned for 9 – 16 February 2013, comprising a team from The Energy Center, KNUST and officials from the Energy Commission and Ministry of Energy.  

At the national level, the German Government is also supporting relevant Ghanaian State agencies involved in the implementation of the country’s Renewable Energy Act.

Please click here to view PowerPoint slides presented by David Ato Quansah

Please click here to view PowerPoint slides presented by Prof. Abeeku Brew - Hammond