The Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC) has successfully launched the CREEC Academy and the Mini-grids for Rural Development Training.
This was done with funding by the German Cooperation, European Union and in partnership with E4D, VETToolbox, Strathmore Energy Research Centre, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the East African Centre for Excellence in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE).
The Academy and training, which commenced on May 1, 2023 is aimed at equipping participants with the necessary skills to design, install, and maintain solar mini-grids.
According to CREEC, the new course will cover a wide range of topics, including solar energy fundamentals, minigrid design, project management, and financial analysis preparing experts to scale up minigrid projects in Uganda.
Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director of CREEC, Mary Suzan Abbo said the new CREEC Academy will be a vehicle to accelerate capacity building and scale up the impact of capacity building programs and skills in the sector for Uganda and East Africa.
She appreciated the role of development partners and the ministry of Energy and Mineral Development for the support over the years leading up to this moment.
“CREEC incorporate ingredients like knowledge management to ensure that the tools provided are usable to participants and this will be tracked by the Centre to ensure impact,” she said.
Abalo added that there is a knowledge gap in the renewable energy sector and therefore initiatives such as those by CREEC are commendable.
Eng Simon Peter Sekitoleko assistant commissioner of Energy who represented the state minister for Energy, Hon Okasai Opolot at the event, remarked that the growing penetration of renewables is stimulated by an increasing enabling environment as evidenced by the enhanced efforts by the government to promote private sector investment in the sector, such as the on-going regulatory framework reviews, capital subsidies for mini-grid projects, VAT tax waivers on imported Solar PV products.
He appreciated capacity building initiatives such as those by CREEC which are in alignment with the government’s commitment to enhance technical capacity in the energy sector through supporting skilling and training centres to not only build capacity but also promote innovation.
“This training program is an excellent example of how capacity building can contribute to sustainable development. CREEC is committed to continuing its efforts to empower individuals and organizations to contribute to the development of sustainable energy solutions,” he said.
“To achieve 100percent electrification will require energy professionals to be ably skilled”, mentioned the director of EACREEE.
He said EACREE, will continue to support initiatives like those by CREEC and Strathmore Energy Research Centre in the advancement and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
He closed by encouraging the trainees to transfer the skills and knowledge from the training to other people in the same field and create an endless chain of learning.