Monday 21st October 2024
Zambia is currently facing an energy crisis due to climate change which has led to a diminishing supply of hydropower electricity. This has led to frequent power shortages, hampering economic growth and affecting daily life for millions of Zambians.
The Zambian government has encouraged Zambians to use alternative energy solutions, such as Solar PV Systems, to ensure a reliable and sustainable energy supply for the future.
In response to this energy crisis The Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC), in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO) through the Skills for Energy in Southern Africa (SESA) Project, a project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), has tailored the Solar PV System Design and Installation (SPVSDI) Course. This course aims to provide participants with practical knowledge in the design, installation, and maintenance of Solar PV systems, as well as testing methods to assess the quality of various systems. Additionally, the SPVSDI course has been subsidized, reducing the course fee from K15,000 to K3,500, therefore making quality training accessible to all Zambians.
Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre is committed to excellence in renewable energy training, recognized under the Association of Power Utilities in Africa (APUA) and the African Network of Centre’s of Excellence in Electricity (ANCEE). This recognition reflects our commitment to high standards of training and our role in promoting sustainable energy practices throughout the continent. KGRTC is dedicated to supporting the Zambian government through the training of engineers, technicians, entrepreneurs, students, electricians, and other qualified personnel in the principles and practices of Solar PV System Design and installation.
The Solar PV System Design and Installation course has been made mobile, allowing KGRTC to reach communities across the country rather than being confined to a single location. This is a step towards building capacity and empowering individuals to harness the potential of renewable energy. So far, training has taken place at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) in Lusaka, Solwezi Trades Training Institute (SOTTI) in Solwezi, Kabwe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Kabwe, and Kitwe Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) in Kitwe. Upcoming training sessions are scheduled for Livingstone, Chipata, Mongu, Kasama, Chinsali and Mansa.
To date, KGTRC has trained 310 participants, 289 males and 21 females from various organizations as well as individuals. We as KGRTC believe that with this training, the country will have competent installers hence reducing wrong installers and counterfeit products that the masses have endured from inexperienced installers.
