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
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…
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…
Advanced Photovoltaics
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
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
The multimedia course using the SCADA Power Lab software provides practical knowledge and skills while evaluating the measured data through detailed computerized process.
| 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 |
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.
- Your full name and contact information (email address, phone number and/or WhatsApp number preceded by your home country phone code)
- The dates and location of the requested training
- A few paragraphs about your motivation
- 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
Official launch
International sensitization campaign 2015-2017