This platform is aimed at those who want to enter the world of sustainable energy, seek alternatives to conventional energy sources and opt for sustainable development in both urban and rural contexts. Those include, but are not limited to high school students, technical staff from municipalities and professionals in the field of energy.
Examples and cases are mainly taken from different countries in Africa, hence the courses may be more relevant for those settled on the African continent, but can also be applicable to those living in a similar context.
Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) is a collaborative EU-funded project between the European Union and nine African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania) that aims at providing energy access technologies and business models that are easily replicable and generate local opportunities for economic development and social cohesion in Africa.
Over the course of this 4-year project (2021-2025), a variety of solutions will be investigated and tested in different contexts. Such contexts include decentralised renewable energies (solar photovoltaics), innovative energy storage systems including the use of second-life Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries, smart microgrids, waste-to-energy systems (biomass to biogas), climate-proofing, resilience and adaptation, and rural internet access.
Innovations will be co-created in living labs that the project has set up to foster the cooperation between consortium members, innovators and local communities, and tested in both urban and rural environments following a three tiers approach. Initial testing will be done at the demonstration site in Kenya (Katito and Homabay), then validated in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa and finally replicated in Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania).
