Stakeholders trained to design, install and maintain PV systems |21 January 2015

Stakeholders in the field of solar energy are attending a workshop on solar photovoltaic design, installation and maintenance.

The workshop, which opened on Monday at the Lungos conference room, Orion Mall, has been organised by the government of Seychelles in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) programme unit.

The aim of the training is to build the capacity of the trainers to guarantee quality outcomes for customers and the country.
 
It will prepare fresh trainers with essential training skills and introduces seasoned practitioners to the latest techniques for delivering influential training.

On the whole, it will teach the stakeholders how solar photovoltaic (PV) systems work, how they are designed, how to predict output of a system and how systems are installed.

The training workshop is being delivered through a joint partnership between Blyss education, a fully licensed post secondary training institution with the Ministry of Education since 2005, and Sean White, master trainer and owner of maximum PowerPoint training, which is a fully accredited training centre and programme with the North American board certified energy practitioners.

Mr White, who is a two-time winner of the coveted US Interstate Renewal Energy Council (IREC) trainer of the year award, does online training for anyone who intends to learn about solar photovoltaic systems.

He has also written one book and in addition has two more to be produced.

“When learning it is important to understand what is being taught instead of memorising the content,” Mr White stated.

The workshop will be held in two parts – the first part being for solar trainers, while the second half will involve other stakeholders such as electricians, contractors, quality inspectors, among others.

Seychelles is more than 90% reliant on imported oil for its energy needs, which is of significant economic and budgetary cost, and the single largest contributor of the greenhouse gases in the country.

Fuel demand continues to increase as a result of continued expansion of the electricity distributing system, the rising standard of living and increased foreign investment projects. Seychelles has great potential for replacing some of the current oil-generated electricity with solar energy systems.