Sustainable and Fair World NGO launched the first edition of “A Solar-Powered Holiday”. This training programme is aimed at pupils, students, anyone interested in solar energy (with or without prior knowledge), as well as technicians and engineers.
The first cohort began on Monday 18 July 2022 at the University of Abomey-Calavi. This interactive three-day training was led by a photovoltaic expert certified by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy, and covered:
- Study and sizing of household systems
- Installation of 12V and 24V systems
- Maintenance of solar systems
- Preparing cost estimates
Over the three days of training, which focused on practical application, participants learned the basics of sustainable development, climate change and renewable energy.
The opening remarks by the President of SF World marked the start of the first day of training. That morning gave participants the chance to discover the concepts of sustainable development and the SDGs, climate change and renewable energy. In the afternoon, they were introduced to solar energy, including the process of converting sunlight into electricity and the components of a photovoltaic system.
The second day covered the rules for sizing and maintaining household PV systems, as well as considerations for each piece of equipment. Interactive exercises made the course content easy to grasp, and participants' engagement was a pleasure to see.
On the third and final day of training, participants learned the basics of preparing cost estimates for such projects, then tried their hand at installing 12V and 24V systems to power loads such as lamps and sockets.
The first cohort closed with a coffee break followed by the presentation of training certificates to participants, who were very pleased with how the training went and with the knowledge gained — new for beginners, refreshed for the more experienced.