Third phase of SOLTRAIN project implementation seminar

Under the SOLTRAIN Project, on 12 October 2016 in Maputo a workshop was held in order to discuss concrete measures to be taken by the various stakeholders for the massification of solar thermal technology.

In parallel to this activity, between 10 and 14 October took place the process of gathering technical data of water heating systems at the premises of potential beneficiaries at this stage of the project (hotels, hospitals, student residences and similar ones) to study technical and financial viability.

As had already been announced by ALER here, the project entered its third phase, after publication of the solar thermal roadmap for Mozambique.

The Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher Education and Technical Professional (MCTESTP), defends the need to diversify the use of renewable energy sources by encouraging the use of solar thermal energy in order to rationalize electricity. This position was supported by the Chairman of the Board of Directors (PCA) of the National Science and Technology Parks Company, EP (ENPCT, EP), Flavia Dzimba, and according to her, such measures include awareness, technical training, political mechanisms' support, incentives and quality control.

The SOLTRAIN - SOUTHERN AFRICAN SOLAR THERMAL TRAINING AND DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE - is a project which results from an initiative of a regional consortium of higher education and research institutions, researchers, certification and quality agencies, consultants, producers and solar thermal equipment users. In Mozambique, this project is coordinated by ENPCT, E.P in partnership with Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) and the National Energy Fund (FUNAE).

The SOLTRAIN initiative’s general purpose is to contribute to meet the energy needs of the participant countries in an economically and environmentally sustainable way through the massification of the use of renewable energy resources. Its implementation in Mozambique will contribute towards setting up new jobs at small and medium enterprise level, strengthen political support mechanisms for encouraging solar thermal systems, creation of training capacity, and improving the quality, performance and lifetime of solar thermal systems.

 The project is currently being carried out in Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Botswana, with the aid of the Austrian Agency for Development (ADA).