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SESA provides training on clean cooking technology to female students and graduate engineers at Rwanda Replication Action

SESA provides training on clean cooking technology to female students and graduate engineers at Rwanda Replication Action

by | Mar 12, 2024 | News

19 female students and graduate engineers were trained on clean cooking technology by Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) at the Rwanda Replication Action. The training was offered by lecturers on energy at the University of Rwanda, partners in the SESA project and technicians from EcoGreen Solution Ltd.

The training for women in clean cooking technology was a transformative experience that occurred on two separate occasions. The first session, held on the 20th and 21st February, brought together a group of 10 women. Following the success of the initial training, a second session took place on the 27th and 28th February, this time with a group of 9 women. Both training sessions unfolded at the EcoGreen plant, a facility dedicated to the manufacturing of pellets and improved cookstoves. These sessions not only empowered participants with valuable skills but also highlighted the commitment of the project to fostering knowledge and expertise in sustainable energy solutions.

The training aimed to achieve three primary objectives: firstly, to familiarize trainees with the opportunities within the clean cooking technology sector; secondly, to equip them with practical skills in the manufacturing process of improved cookstoves and the production of biomass pellets; and thirdly, to enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities and understanding of business ethics to empower them in initiating startups in clean cooking technology.

The positive outcomes of the training included trainees’ ability to identify job opportunities and businesses within the clean cooking technology sector. Furthermore, they gained fundamental knowledge in improved cookstove manufacturing and biomass pellet production, laying a foundation for potential startup ventures.

Harnessing the potential of Smart Microgrid Systems in African countries

Harnessing the potential of Smart Microgrid Systems in African countries

by | Feb 29, 2024 | Capacity Building Online courses, News

We kindly invite you to the SESA Online Webinar on ‘Smart microgrid systems in African countries’ to be held online via Zoom on 14th March 2024 at 12:00 – 13:30 GMT (15:00 – 16:30 EAT / 13:00 – 14:30 CET), jointly organized by the Stockholm Environment Institute, ICLEI Europe and F6S.

Webinar overview:

The energy poverty gap in sub-Saharan Africa affects approximately 597 million people, mainly rural households that are too remote from the main grid and are too costly to electrify by extending the main grid, thus posing a major challenge to the socio-economic development of these communities. With growing electricity demand, smart microgrids hold great promise as an effective off-grid solution to close the energy poverty gap and supplement existing electrification programs in rural communities by harnessing locally available energy resources to satisfy their energy demands efficiently.

This webinar provides an overview of smart microgrids and related technologies as well as the business models and the enabling policy environment for smarter, more efficient, and sustainable energy systems in SESA’s partner countries. The webinar will thus host speakers (entrepreneurs, industry players, representatives from local bodies, etc.) from outside the SESA project consortium to discuss businesses and policies in the African context. The webinar is part of the sixth module of the SESA capacity building programme, a self-paced e-learning programme that focuses on smart microgrid systems. The courses are available on the NUA campus platform.

Agenda: 

Save your seat

About SESA:

Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) is a collaborative project between the European Union and nine African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania) that aims to provide energy access technologies and business models that are easily replicable and generate local opportunities for economic development and social cohesion in Africa. Through several local living labs, it is expected to facilitate the co-development of scalable and replicable energy access innovations to be tested, validated, and later replicated throughout the African continent. These solutions will include decentralised renewables (solar photovoltaics), innovative energy storage systems including the use of second-life electric vehicle batteries, smart micro-grids, waste-to-energy systems (biomass to biogas), climate-proofing, resilience and adaptation, and rural internet access.

Running from October 2021 until September 2025, SESA is the result of a strong partnership between leading European and African universities, research centres, industry actors, local governments, knowledge and implementation organisations and networks. These will be strengthened via peer-to-peer exchange, policy dialogues, regional and international events among others.

GDPR:

By attending this webinar, I agree to allow the organizers of the SESA webinar, taking place on 14th March 2024 from 12:00 – 13:30 GMT (15:00 – 16:30 EAT / 13:00 – 14:30 CET), to publish and distribute the webinar recording in all forms and in all media. This includes but is not limited to digital distribution on the SESA project website and its social media channels, as well as those of its partners. The consent is given without a temporal or spatial limit and can only be withdrawn on a solid ground. 

Eight SMEs Selected as Winners of the SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023

Eight SMEs Selected as Winners of the SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023

by | Feb 26, 2024 | News, Press Releases

The Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) consortium is delighted to announce the winners of the 2nd SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023. After a rigorous selection process led by SESA partner Siemens Stiftung, eight local Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from Cote D’Ivoire, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania have been chosen to drive forward access to sustainable energy solutions across Africa.

Meet the selected entrepreneurs:

The SESA project, funded by the European Commission, operates across nine African countries with local and international partners. The initiative aims to test and validate sustainable energy solutions and business models that can be replicated and generate local opportunities for economic development on the African continent.

The selected SMEs demonstrated expertise in addressing Africa’s energy access challenges, particularly in rural and off-grid communities. Their initiatives encompass a range of technologies, including innovative solar home systems, solar irrigation solutions for small-holder farmers, waste-to-energy solutions for clean cooking, and solar cold chain technologies.

Each enterprise has received between €50,000 and €100,000 in service agreements to boost the replication and take up of the most promising business models and technologies developed throughout the SESA project and its livings labs. The SESA project’s initial Call for Entrepreneurs in 2022 validated several business models and technologies. Now with the 2nd Call for Entrepreneurs 2023, the aim is to build upon these validated results and outcomes to boost replication of the SESA concepts more widely across Africa.

Additionally, the selected companies will have the opportunity to participate in the SESA Incubator/Accelerator Programme run by SESA partner Smart Innovation Norway (SIN), which includes mentorship, coaching, and access to networks of industry experts.

The eight selected SMEs will be presented during the SESA Rwanda Regional Event at Kigali (Rwanda) on 24th April 2024, at the ‘SESA Procurement & Venture Summit’ where they will have the opportunity to present their ventures to investors and engage with stakeholders from across the energy sector.

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Assessment of the biological methane potential of different food residues from a market in Ghana for local residues valorization and biogas production

by | Jan 29, 2024 | Scientific publication

Assessment of the biological methane potential of different food residues from a market in Ghana for local residues valorization and biogas production

Executive summary

Fuel supply for cooking and heating is one of the major problems in Ghana (Africa). Firewood and liquified  gas petroleum are the most used fuels, but their use has a high environmental impact, due to deforestation and  CO2 emissions. Therefore, more sustainable and accessible energy technologies need to be developed. 

 

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Exploring the potential of 2nd life batteries in the Africa countries

Exploring the potential of 2nd life batteries in the Africa countries

by | Jan 8, 2024 | Capacity Building Online courses, Events, News, Upcoming Events

We kindly invite you to the SESA Online Webinar on ‘Exploring the potential of 2nd life batteries in the Africa countries’ to be held online via Zoom on Wednesday 24th January, 12:00 – 13:30 GMT (15:00 – 16:30 EAT / 13:00 – 14:30 CET).

Webinar overview

The use of batteries has been gaining traction across the world for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and in other applications. Battery usage aims to reduce the GHG emissions and boost the adoption of clean energy technologies globally. In general, the lifetime of batteries is approximately 10 years, depending upon its application and usage, after which these are disposed. However, disposed batteries still have the capacity to be repurposed and utilised in other applications that can accomodate the lower efficiencies of the second-life batteries and, inturn, save costs. Thus, the usage of second-life batteries helps increase the lifespan and prevent early disposal. In the African context, battery-based applications are comparatively newer. This provides an opportunity to explore the potential of second-life batteries in various applications including electrification, energy storage, etc., and explore how new businesses can be created around recycling and repurposing the second-life batteries, taking into account the existing and upcoming regulations in the African countries. In this webinar, the speakers will present some of the activities being undertaken in the SESA project on the topic of second-life batteries. In addition, the webinar will also host speakers (entrepreneurs, industry players, representatives from local bodies, etc.) from outside the SESA project consortium to discuss businesses and policies in the African context. This webinar is part of the fifth module of the SESA capacity building programme, a self-paced e-learning programme which focuses on the second-life batteries. The courses are available on the NUA campus platform.

Save your spot for the webinar

About SESA

SESA’s primary goal is to address climate change and prevent situations of technological  entrenchment, all while enhancing access to sustainable energy through cost-effective and  dependable means. As such, digital connectivity and access to rural areas is a catalyst to  ensure this goal.

The project’s objective is to ensure that its actions can be readily replicated on a large scale.  In pursuit of surpassing conventional practices and maximising the project’s influence,  collaborative innovations will be co-developed with local partners. Furthermore, the project will  maintain close cooperation with similar initiatives to capitalise on shared advantages. Read  more and sign up to the SESA newsletter to be updated on project development.

GDPR

GDPR Compliance: By attending this webinar, I agree to allow the organisers of the SESA webinar,  taking place from 24th October 2023, 15:00 – 16:30 CEST (16:00 – 17:30 EAT / 15:00 – 16:30 CEST),to publish and distribute the webinar recording in all forms and in all media. This includes but is not limited  to digital distribution on the SESA project website and its social media channels, as well as those of its  partners. The consent is given without a temporal or spatial limit and can only be withdrawn on a solid  ground.

The project’s objective is to ensure that its actions can be readily replicated on a large scale.  In pursuit of surpassing conventional practices and maximising the project’s influence,  collaborative innovations will be co-developed with local partners. Furthermore, the project will  maintain close cooperation with similar initiatives to capitalise on shared advantages. Read  more and sign up to the SESA newsletter to be updated on project development.