By: Mabel Annang
Students of Kpedze Senior High School in Volta Region are winners of this year’s Energy Commission’s Senior High Schools Renewable Energy challenge.
The student’s won the competition with a Solar Dehydrator, designed to address issues related to post harvest losses of fruit and vegetables.
The 3rd edition of the Renewable Energy Challenge which focused on clean cooking and food processing using Renewable Energy Technologies took place in Accra.
The challenge seeks to promote energy research and development among students and to facilitate the establishment of mentorship programmes to advance ideas into game changing solutions.
The sixteen regional competitions were organized, with 119 Senior High and Technical Schools participating in the challenge nationwide.
Among these were 96 mixed schools, 13 girls’ schools and 10 boys’ schools. Ghana Secondary Technical, Kpedze Senior High, Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High, Nkoranza Technical Institute, Business Senior High and Bolgatanga Girls Senior Schools were the six finalists.
The various schools presented projects on Tescan Solar Oven, Plasto-Fuel gas generation, Solar Dehydrated and Recycling of Agriculture Waste into charcoal Briquette, Palm Kernel shells charcoal and PCM Solar electric cooker.
At the finals of the 3rd edition of the Challenge in Accra, the Minister for the Environment Science, Technology and Innovation, MESTI Dr. Kwaku Afriyie charged the Ministry of Energy and Ministries to adopt and promote these technologies presented by the various schools to develop a sustainable clean cook market.
“We have just seen brilliant presentations and demonstrations from these young ones who through the support of their Teachers and Coaches have come up with such wonderful project and I will task the Ministry of Energy to involve the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Finance as well as other relevant stakeholders to adopt and promote these technologies which could address post-harvest loss issues and improve farmers and household’s incomes,” Dr. Kwaku Afriyie intimated.
Kpedze SHS won with 84.3 points and were presented with a dummy cheque for Ghs20,000, medals and plaque in addition to six laptops, and other solar products, including a 5kw solar PV System, Solar wall lights and streetlights.
Yaa Asantewaa Girls SHS which won the maiden Professor George Hagan Best teamwork award, also placed second with a score of 80 points, and received a cash prize of GHS 74,000, six tablets, medals and a plaque, and other consolatory items.
Nkoranza Technical Institute had 78.6 points and placed third and was awarded with a cash prize of GHS 67,000, medals, a plaque, six tablets and other solar powered items, while Bolgatanga girls SHS came fourth with 77.3 points.
Business SHS, Tamale, came fifth with 74 points with the sixth place going to the Ghana Secondary school (GSTS) -72 points
The winners of the Energy Commission’s Renewable Energy Challenge Kpedze Senior High School expressed gratitude.
Obed Amuzu, a member of Kpedze SHS team, said their journey to the top with their locally made renewable fruits and vegetables preservative was a challenge.
Oscar Amonoo-Neizer the Executive Director of the Energy Commission said the competition was to promote the development of efficient use of renewable energy resources through public education, training and regulation of entrepreneurs in the sector.
”The Commission intends to support the Ghana Education service to eliminate the chew, pour, pass and forget phenomenon in the educational system of Ghana and practical application of theoretical knowledge” Mr. Amonoo- Neizer explained.
Deputy Energy Minister Andrew Agyapa-Mercer said “both public and private sector Players must identify and fully play their respective roles in the realization of the Universal access to clean cooking market.”
The Energy Commission unveiled its 25th anniversary statue to Climax the event.
