Ghana Living Lab
Living lab description
The Ghana Living Lab, situated at Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) in Kumasi, Ghana, plays a crucial role in the SESA project.
Established in 2020, AAMUSTED is Ghana’s leading Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution, dedicated to fostering skilled manpower and promoting entrepreneurship education. The Living Lab at AAMUSTED is strategically located within Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city, aligning with the university’s mission to provide higher education in technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial training. The university’s objectives include job creation for economic development, equipping teachers with the necessary skills for technical and vocational education, and fostering strong ties between the university and industry or the community.
The Living Lab serves as a practical hub for the SESA project, allowing students, educators, and the community to engage in hands-on experiences related to sustainable energy solutions. By leveraging AAMUSTED’s emphasis on holistic training and industry collaboration, the Ghana Living Lab empowers individuals to contribute to the development of sustainable practices, aligning with the broader goals of the university and the SESA initiative.
Living Lab objectives
1
Provide access to clean cooking fuel (bio gel) for urban and rural communities through waste-to-energy technologies to reduce and utilize waste and substitute firewood/charcoal and therefore, deforestation.
2
Provide reliable solar electricity for lighting and productive use for rural communities by the end of the project.
3
Enhance stakeholders’ capacity to provide sustainable smart energy solutions through capacity-building programs to increase skills, knowledge and expertise for them to start their business, expand it, or secure a job as a result of the training.
Technology being tested
The technologies to be implemented in the Ghana living lab include bioethanol fuel and stoves for cooking and solar and recycled batteries for off-grid applications. These will be implemented in both rural and urban sites. The bioethanol fuel and stoves will be developed by Econexus while the solar solutions will be provided by Nastech.
Bio Ethanol cooking fuels which will be developed largely from sugarcane molasses, cashew apples, cellulose gel and water will be provided in the form of Ecogel.
Characteristics of the Ecogel:
- Energy from waste products • 100% organic
- Contains Mosquito Repelling Additive
- No black flame stains on cooking pots
- 0.75 litres of fuel per day for a family of 5
- 1 litre of fuel burns for 15+ hours
- Non-spill, non-explosive, and non-toxic
The solar technology to be implemented by Nastech involves integrating E-waste to develop affordable solar solutions. Thus, solar generators, lithium battery packs and inverters are developed from e-waste Nastech proposed to achieve the following deliverables in the short term: • recycling of 200 tons of electronic waste and plastics into renewable energy solutions to power communities and businesses thereby contributing to a 5% reduction in power sector CO2 emissions by October 2024 and providing renewable energy support to up to 200 businesses.
The microgrids which consist of 20 MW PV plants each and have been installed by NASTECH at Berdaabuo Community and KwameDwaa Community, both in the Atwima Mpanua Districts, Kumasi. Three bioethanol industrial stoves designed and produced by ECONEXUS VENTURES have also been installed at St John’s Grammar School at the Ga North Municipal, Greater Accra and Nkawie Senior High Technical School and Toase Senior High School, both at Atwima Nwaibiagya districts In Kumasi.