The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency - ECREEE, organized a program definition workshop on the development of an ECOWAS Solar Thermal Energy capacity building and Demonstration Program on 13th and 14th of June, in Praia, Cabo Verde.
This Workshop was organized within the framework of ECREEE activities aimed at introducing renewable and sustainable resourcesin the ECOWAS region. The workshop provided informed participants about potential and the existing needs of different solar thermal technologies in the ECOWAS region and aimed to strengthen the capacity of national actors in all 15 ECOWAS Member States, to design and implement solar thermal systems.
The countries in the region are lagging behind regarding the global dissemination of such systems, although there is a great potential in terms of solar radiation, greater than many other countries which are much more advanced regarding the implementation of solar thermal energy systems. Solar thermal energy technologies can be used for water heating in buildings such as schools, hospitals, health centers, laundries, hotels, and also to produce heat for industries, drying of fruits, cereals, wood, or even for the production of distilled water.
In his opening speech, the Minister of Energy, Tourism and Industry H.E. Humberto de Brito congratulated ECREEE for organizing such an event , it shows the Center’s commitment in the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The Ambassador of Sain to Cabo Verde, H.E. Jose Corvinos also in his openeing speech, reiterated the technical and financial support that Spain has lent to ECREEE and expressed his satisfaction regarding the activities being carried out in the region by ECREEE, stating that “the Spanish support to the centre since the beginning was a good choice”.
Mr. Mahama Kappiah, Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, highlighted that the region has a huge potential to be explored, however very few things are being done in order to promote solar thermal energy, stating that “Member States are still on a very low level of awareness, despite the significant availability of solar radiation”.
The workshop was an opportunity to create a regional platform for awareness of the potential for solar thermal energy in the region and to discuss important issues for a successful implementation of the technology. The workshop brought together participants from the Ministry of Energy, Tourisms and Industry, the Board of the Association of Architects in ECOWAS and the institutions related to the field of solar thermal energy as well as regional and international experts in Solar Thermal technology.
For more information about this program, please contact:
Mr. Hannes Bauer
Program Manager of ECOWAS Solar Thermal Energy Capacity Building and Demonstration Program
E-mail: hbauer@ecreee.org
Phone: (+238) 260 4630
