CREEC PARTICIPATES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY MICRO-GRID ACADEMY
Three CREEC technicians participated in the renewable energy Micro-Grid Academy starting from 4th-14th April 2018 at the Institute of energy and research in Nairobi, Kenya. The Micro-Grid Academy (MGA) is an Eastern-African Regional vocational capacity building platform that aims to enhance access to energy and green jobs market through technical and entrepreneurial training programs on decentralized renewable energy solutions. This particular training attracted participants from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
Participants posing for a picture at the end of the training
The training comprised of both technical and business aspects with the technical side of the training covering micro-grid sizing, automation and maintenance in micro-grid as well as site visits and practices, hybrid systems of a combination of hydro, solar, diesel generators. Being set up at the Institute of Energy Studies & Research-Kenya Power in Nairobi and supported by a real 20 -40kW micro-grid for hands-on training, the Academy enable the CREEC participants to plan, design, build and operate grid connected as well as hybrid mini-grids in rural and remote areas. In recent times CREEC has worked on small hydro, mini-grid and micro grid projects and therefore the training helped to concretize the capacity of CREEC technicians.
The business aspect of the training focused on entrepreneurship and business development where business model canvas covered in detail value proposition, customer relationship, channels, customer segment, key activities, key resources, key partners, costs and revenue sources which a is key strategy in micro enterprise development. The general objective of the project is to enhance access to energy in rural communities, local enterprises and job creation. This also has a direct health and education services, female empowerment, environmental protection and climate change mitigation, as well as reliable water and food production and energy security as highlighted by the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).