The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) is set to partner with the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC) to embark on innovative, sustainable and impactful projects on renewable energy, water and waste. The partnership is expected to facilitate the country’s pursuit of a sustainable future in the energy sector.
This was made known during a courtesy call by Mr. Javier Accerete, an energy and water expert from ITC on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako at his Office. The focus of the meeting was to explore possibilities for joint initiatives and collaboration in renewable energy and its allied fields.
Mr. Accerete recognized the importance that ITC as an institution has placed in promoting the varied sources of renewable energy, its efficiency and management; and assured of the availability of vast expertise in the field. He revealed that plans for ITC to finalize a proposal for funding from the European Union, INTERRAC MAC Programme had reached an advanced stage. He affirmed the intention of applying part of that funding for the implementation of renewable energy projects as well as providing resources for training and capacity building within the West African sub-region, of which Ghana would be a beneficiary. Therefore, He was at UENR to explore potential collaboration in the areas in which the fund will provide support.
Welcoming him, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, affirmed the mission, vision, and core values of UENR, and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to leverage on a collaboration with the Canary Islands Institute of Technology. He recognized the tremendous benefits that UENR stands to achieve through such a partnership in advancing and utilization of renewable energy initiatives in Ghana.
A Senior Lecturer with the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering and the brain behind this initiative, Dr. Edward Awafo, on his part pointed out the existing relationship between UENR and the Canary Island Institute of Technology on other ongoing renewable projects in Ghana and was hopeful that more projects would emanate from the discussion with support funding from INTERRAC MAC to strengthen the partnership between the two institutions.
In a separate meeting with some faculty members working on energy, waste, water and related issues, Mr. Accerete presented a wide range of exemplary projects in these identifiable areas with the Canary Island Institute of Technology as the main funding agent in various countries. During interactions at the technical sessions, it was proposed that one of the existing buildings on UENR main campus would be powered with solar energy, to function independently from the national grid, to demonstrate how to harness energy from solar resources for teaching and learning at the University.
In attendance at the technical meeting were the Dean of the School of Energy, Prof. Samuel Gyamfi, as well as Dr. Thomas Atta Darkwah and Dr. Gilbert Akolgo from the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering; Dr. Felix Diawuo from the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering; Dr. Gifty Serwaa Mensah and Dr. Benjamin Batinge from Regional Centre of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES).
