Technology development

In the area of technology development, CREK will:

• pioneer and support the development of innovative technologies in solar PV and thermal applications. Already researchers in the Technical University have developed and tested several solar dryer models for agricultural applications. Other solar-based research activities have targeted treatment of fluoride contaminated water which has been piloted successfully in the Bongo area of the Northern Region. These and other solar technologies will be developed fully for the benefit of the citizenry;

• undertake process development for bio-fuels like bio-diesel, bio-ethanol and biogas from different feedstock. Ghana and many parts of Africa are still struggling to tap into the global biofuel market because of the lack of technical and logistical capacity to produce biofuels for domestic and industrial use as well as for export;

• support the development of efficient fuel (charcoal, briquettes, etc.) production and utilization;

• seek to explore the potential of using wind energy technologies in farm irrigation, power generation and water pumping for community water systems;

• seek to address the knowledge gap in developing cheap but efficient biogas systems for use by rural and peri-urban communities; and

• promote the use of municipal solid and liquid waste in energy generation and other useful by-products such as compost. For instance, sawdust which has become an eyesore in our cities and town could be turned into useful energy products like briquettes, biochar, diesel or ethanol.

Capacity building

CREK will play leading role in training and transfer of know-how in the design, development and fabrication of applications in the sector as outlined below:

• As a centre of excellence, the facility will be used to train students, industry players, academia and financial players on renewable energy technologies;

• The project will lead to skills development in solar PV installations & maintenance, wind turbine assembly and fabrication, biogas facility development, solar dryers and solar water heaters fabrication and installation and biofuels production processes. This will go a long way to reduce the high unemployment rates among the youth in the country;

• The project will lead to greater food security in the country as dissemination and adoption of solar dryers reduce the incidence of post-harvest losses;

• The centre will also collaborate with industry in bringing industry players up to date with existing knowledge and best practices in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector; and

• The centre will with time role out technical degree programmes in renewable energy technologies.