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Solar academy : what for ?

Democratizing solar solutions

Solar energy, an opportunity for Africa? Yes, no doubt if we look into date from the African Development Bank which in 2017 estimated the potential of solar energy at 1000 GW for the whole continent. The consensus on the need to provide concrete responses to the energy crisis in Africa should therefore favour an unprecedented expansion of solar solutions. Skills and know-how in the field of solar energy are now sought after throughout the continent. Continuing the development of solar energy to ensure sustainable development in Africa: it is to meet this challenge that the first solar academy in Africa was created. It was designed by Solektra, an industry leader whose expertise is particularly recognised in off-grid solutions in rural areas.

Objective 1: To develop quality training sessions, adapted to market needs and validated by official certification bodies

Objective 2: To set up a large Solar Energy Laboratory, complying with international standards and equipped with the latest generation of equipment.

Objective 3: Create partnerships with academic institutions, training centres and companies to enrich our training sessions

Objective 5: To become a recognized certification and accreditation centre for training in solar photovoltaic energy

Promoting a 360° approach

The objective of the solar academy is to train a critical mass of young people and provide them with the various expertises required to democratize solar solutions, including design, sizing a,nd maintenance of installations.

Becoming a reference institute

Since its creation in 2015, the Solektra Solar Academy has organized around thirty sessions over periods ranging from one week to three months, targeting a very diverse audience: engineers, aspiring technicians and skilled workers, representatives from agencies in charge of rural electrification, civil servants in ministries of energy and finance, NGOs and associations in charge of the promotion and empowerment of women – in particular to raise awareness among African households of the advantages of solar energy in their daily lives.

The academy has opened in 2019 opened a second campus on the international industrial platform of Diamniadio, in the district of Dakar in Senegal, within the Multi-Industries Group factory, which is, like Solektra, a subsidiary of the ADS Group. The aim is to create new synergies, since MIG, which has already recruited some alumni of the solar academy, will eventually be in charge of assembling the solar solutions marketed by Solektra.

In both Bamako and Dakar, the same concern is to combine theoretical and practical training; both campuses therefore include computerized classrooms and practical work rooms in which the participants’ knowledge is tested through practical exercises on real equipment.

Deploying best experts in the field

Patrice DANGANG
  • Position at the academy :
  • Managing Director of Solektra Solar Academy Mali and Senegal, in charge in particular of defining and implementing the development strategy for both campuses; developing programs and sessions on photovoltaic solar energy and energy effic…

    Giscard fada
  • Position at Solektra:
  • Project Coordinator for Energy, Water and Civil Engineering, in charge of prospecting and searching for opportunities, concluding the relevant contracts with the clients or public authorities concerned, conducting missions including follow-up on the ground by supervising the techni…

    Solar training : what type ?
    General trainings
    The solar academy offers a first series of training courses on smart grids and renewable solar energy for those who wish to acquire basic knowledge of solar solutions. These are professionals who may be involved in the deployment of solar projects, including representatives of electrification agencies, civil servants from ministries of energy or employees of public electricity companies.
    Specialized trainings
    Advanced Photovoltaics
    The UniTrain-I Photovoltaic Training demonstrates and explains the operating principle of photovoltaic cells.
    The UniTrain-I training includes a number of experiments and vcase studies to help students tobetter understand problems related to electrical engineering. The various courses cover the production of electricity from renewable energies as well as distribution networks. Production and distribution processes requiring special treatment are studied in experiments carried out safely at very low voltages.
    Advanced Photovoltaics EPH 2
    Advanced Photovoltaics EPH 2 training allows you to work on projects with industrial components.
    The progression of the sun is realistically simulated. Emulators allow laboratory experiments to be carried out in the absence of sunlight.
    The multimedia course “Interactive Lab Assistant Advanced Photovoltaic” is designed to focus both on theoretical knowledge and practical know-how, and to monitor date through detailed computerized measurement process.
    Advanced Photovoltaics for Professionals EPH 3
    This training realistically simulates the progression of the sun and allows practical laboratory experiments to be carried out in the absence of sunlight. The design of photovoltaic systems operating parallel to the power grid is realistic. Power converter and transformer techniques are used to stabilize the power grid.
    The multimedia course using the SCADA Power Lab software provides practical knowledge and skills while evaluating the measured data through detailed computerized process.
    A la carte trainings
    “A la carte” training courses are also available; they are designed for a more expert audience, such as engineering companies or solar equipment installation companies, agencies in charge of electrification, companies active in small industries in rural areas. It is indeed possible for these audiences to develop specific sessions according to their needs, in order to improve certain skills in the targeted teams, or to put into practice theoretical knowledge through case studies or simulations.
    Calendar 2019-2020
    Calendar 2019-2020
    Please check this page on a regular basis to be informed of dates of training sessions
    Application : what process ?
    Pre-requisite
    Category of training Targeted audiences Pre-requisites
    General training - Renewable energies General public: Young people wishing to work as solar photovoltaic system installers, women and other people who use solar solutions (access to electricity, pumping, lighting, daily use). Read and write in French
    General training - renewbale energies, smart grids Electrical engineers Engineers wishing to acquire a specialization Technicians Field workers wishing to specialize in solar PV Read and write in French Electrical concepts/Sound understanding how electrical systems work Depending on the audience: engineering diplomas or certificate of professional competence or proof of at least 2 years' professional experience
    Specialised trainings - Solar PV systems installation and maintenance Electrical engineers Engineers wishing to acquire a specialization Technicians Field workers wishing to specialize in solar PV Read and write in French Electrical concepts/Sound understanding how electrical systems work Depending on the audience: engineering diplomas or certificate of professional competence or proof of at least 2 years' professional experience
    Specialised trainings - Design and supervision of solar PV systems Electrical engineers Energy/Electricity Agency managers and staff in charge of electrification plans Read and write in French Diplômes d’ingénieurs Diplômes et / ou certificats d’aptitude professionnelles démontrant une expertise spécifique dans le domaine électrique
    Joining individual trainings

    Would you like to attend one of the sessions of the Solektra Solar Academy in Bamako or Dakar? Please refer first to the calendar and send your registration request by email to this address [email protected]
    . The application must include the following elements.

    1. Your full name and contact information (email address, phone number and/or WhatsApp number preceded by your home country phone code)
    2. The dates and location of the requested training
    3. A few paragraphs about your motivation
    4. A summary of your curriculum/professional experience to date and your diplomas or certificates proving that you meet the pre-requisites.

    It is requested to send its request with a minimum of 15 days before the training’s starting date, so as to allow the Academy team a minimum period of time to look into the requests. Answers will be given within one week to ten working days. A training course is confirmed as soon as a minimum number of 10 participants are registered. The fee for one-week individual training sessions is fixed for the year 2020 at 300 000 FCFA per person and covers the following aspects: training session over 5 full days and coffee breaks. For training courses taking place on the Diamniadio campus, transfers between Dakar and Diamniadio will soon be taken care of free of charge with the setting up of a minibus service

    Joining corporate trainings
    The training courses offered for companies or large organisations should include at least 5 people. The prices are defined according to the content, depending if it is derived from the existing catalogue or defined ‘à la carte’. Prices are generally comprised between 300 000 FCFA and 600 000 FCFA per person, excluding transport and accommodation costs. For any group registration, companies are invited to contact Mr. Patrice Dangang, Director of the Academy: [email protected]
    After the solar academy : what’s next ?
    Solektra Solar Academy Certificate
    Any training provided by the Solar Academy Solektra allows participants to receive a personal certificate of competence summarising the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired. Such certificate can be presented as proof of training to recruitment agencies, potential employers or training organisations (for those who wish to use the technical competence they have acquired at the academy to access to certain curriculums).
    Solar jobs
    What kind of ‘solar jobs’ can you find in Africa today? Opportunities are mainly in the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic systems in peri-urban and rural areas; solar is indeed emerging as a strategic part of the energy mix for isolated communities that are not connected to the national electricity grid; an increasing number of regional electrification plans are focusing on such solutions. Other potential opportunities include the design and assembly of solar solutions – from lighting solutions to more complex solutions that combine energy and access to water (solar water pump, sanitation, irrigation, etc.).
    Testimonial
    After being graduated from the Solektra Solar Acadamy in 2016, Ulrich Kounasso joined Multi-Inudstries Group in Dakar.
    Solektra
    Vision
    Our ambition
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    Our expertise
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    Impact
    Products and equipements
    Integrated solutions
    Countries of operations
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    Servicing African populations
    Partnering with best experts
    Solektra Solar Academy
    Solar academy : what for?
    Democratizing solar solutions
    Promoting a 360° approach
    Becoming a reference institute
    Deploying best experts in the field
    Solar training : what type ?
    General trainings
    Specialized trainings
    A la carte trainings
    Calendar 2019-2020
    Application : what process ?
    Pre-requisite
    Joining individual trainings
    Registration process
    Tariffs
    Joining corporate trainings
    After the soalr academy : what’s next ?
    Solektra Solar Academy certificate
    Solar jobs
    Testimonial
    Akon Linghting Africa
    A game-changing initiative
    A receptive environment
    An opportunity for Africa
    A need for sensitization
    Key highlights

    Official launch

    International sensitization campaign 2015-2017

    Lessons learnt
    Address real issues
    Improve solar project financing
    Trusting local communities
    Afater Akon Lighting Africa
    Solektra, a trusted partner in Africa and beyond
    Solar solutions to support Africa's industrial development
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