Kick off Meeting and Regional Technical training ECOWAS Solar Thermal Energy Training and Demonstration Program - “SOLtrain West Africa”

As part of the efforts of ECREEE to promote the use of sustainable and renewable energy resources and technologies in West Africa, ECREEE will launch the ECOWAS Solar Thermal Training and Demonstration Program (in short: SOLtrain West Africa) on the 201th of April 2015 at the CERMI, Centre for Renewable Energy and Industrial Maintenance - Praia, Cabo Verde

The ECOWAS Solar Thermal Energy Training and Demonstration Program is one of ECREEEs flagship projects developed ensuing the strong political will of the ECOWAS heads states and government to sustainable energy for all in the region through the adoption of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies in 2013.

The ECOWAS renewable energy policy set targets for solar thermal energy for water heating in schools, hospitals, buildings, hotels and even for industrial processes . The objective of the program SOLtrain West Africa is thus to make a significant contribution to the switch from a fossil fuel based energy supply to a sustainable energy supply system based on renewable energies, especially on solar thermal.

The program has a strong focus on capacity building and training of existing selected partner universities and polytechnic schools in 5 West African countries Capo Verde, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.

The Kick off Meeting and Regional Technical training is organized to officially launch the program and kick start the building of capacities of the participants and 6 partner institutions working on solar thermal energy in West Africa.

The event will feature the participation of representatives from the selected project partner institutions and also representatives of the Center for Renewable Energy and Industrial Maintenance - CERMI in Cabo Verde (Praia), Ministry of Energy in Cabo Verde, GIZ, the Luxemburg Development Cooperation - LuxDev, and other technical partners and stakeholders.