The Energy Center (TEC), KNUST has completed its first round of short courses for 2012 with courses in Renewable Energy Project Analysis using WAsP (Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program) and RETScreen tools.

The 2-week training was held from 27th February - 9th March 2012 and equipped participants with tools to analyze the technical performance and financial viability of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

The training was sponsored by the World Bank through the Solar Capacity Upgrading Project at TEC, and the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE).

A total of 21 participants from the under-listed institutions were trained:

• Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC),

• Grid Company of Ghana (GRIDCo),

• Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Koforidua and Ho Polytechnics,

• The Energy Center, KNUST, and

• The Department of Mechanical Engineering, KNUST

In the first week the participants were taken through wind energy project analysis with the use of WAsP, a wind project analysis tool developed by the RISO Center of the Technical University of Denmark. This session was led by Mr Emmanuel Y. Osei, a wind energy project analysis expert with The Energy Center, KNUST.

The second week was used to take participants through the RETScreen Clean Energy Analysis tools. This session was led by Dr Charles Diarra, of the Queens University in Ontario, Canada, and a consultant to ECREEE.

RETScreen is a clean energy project analysis tool developed by the Natural Resources Canada, and is freely available at www.retscreen.com. Participants were taken through the analysis of a number of clean energy technologies and case studies including: Solar PV, Wind, Small and Mini Hydro, and Energy efficiency in commercial buildings.

The training was also used to provide the first ever preview of the newly developed Energy Policy Toolkit by RETScreen International. The support of ECREEE was part of its programme to build capacity in all fifteen ECOWAS countries on financial structuring and technical appraisal of Renewable Energy projects.

The next series of courses will be run in May 2012. You may contact the Coordinator of Short Course at daquansah.coe@knust.edu.gh or call +233266 755 479 to book a place.

Available courses include:

• Design and Installation of Stand-Alone Solar PV Systems,14 – 18 May, 2012 - US$ 170

• Biofuels Technology and Economics,14 – 18 May, 2012 - US$170

• Biogas Design and Construction 21 – 25 May, 2012 - US$170

To download brochure on available short courses click here. 

To view pictures from training session click here.

 To download the outline of training programme click here.

Further training opportunities are available at the newly established RETScreen Training Institute.