Juliet Degadzo, a member of the Ghana WATSAN Journalist Network recently participated in a seminar on Solar Energy and Biomass in Germany. She was part of a delegation invited by InWEnt under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy.
She filed the following report
Ghana’s delegation from various parts of the energy sector has called on government to speed up action to enact and enforce a law on renewable energy to utilize the abundant resources the country has which are lying fallow due to the absence of laws on renewable energy.
This came up at a technology transfer seminar between Germany and Ghana-Nigeria professionals in the Renewable Energy Sector specifically on Solar Energy and Biomass in Bavaria Germany. The event was organized by Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung gGmbH (InWEnt) a German based non-profit organization with a worldwide operation dedicated to human resource development, advanced training, and dialogue.
The fifth vice president of the Bavarian parliament Jorg Rohde, in his closing remarks, called on countries to unite towards fighting global challenges instead of engaging in unnecessary disputes. He says the world needs a unifying effort to meet its targets on the environment and its related issues. Speaking at a dinner to mark the closing ceremony, he stated that it is better for countries to trade amongst themselves to boost the global economy rather than engaging in unnecessary wars. “Your presence in Bavaria is gladdening since you are going to be ambassadors of Bavaria in your respective countries”. He also called on participants to share knowledge and use the platform created for networking to enhance their knowledge base on renewable energy which offers a better solution to the world’s energy demands thus promoting a healthy and safe environment for posterity.
Georg Reichl, head of division, foreign economic relations with Africa, Latin America, Middle East Turkey and Economic Cooperation with developing countries, opened and closed the seminar officially and entreated developing countries such as Ghana and Nigeria to make investments that have long-term benefits. He explained that most often than not, many countries do not consider the long-term benefits of projects they undertake, but are deterred by initial cost implications that may seem high, but are actually cheaper in the long run.
According to Daniel Delatree at the chamber of commerce of Bavaria Germany, the introduction of Renewable Energy and Heat Acts have opened the renewable energy market by creating 278,000 new jobs since 2000, Germany has cut down its green house gas emission by 21% (1998-2012) and have exceeded the Kyoto Protocol since 2007. Proper waste disposal mechanisms and engineered land filled sites in Bavaria have contributed to the increase in electricity generation from biomass. It is rather sad that Ghana lacks such proper waste management mechanisms. Participants were also introduced to the general framework and technology attachments for the use of sun energy and biomass over all in connection with the recycling of waste and waste water in Bavaria. Some highlights were on the technological utilization of waste and waste water recycling for energy generation. As part of extensive discussion with the Bavaria Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport, & Technology will be sending a delegation to Ghana in November 2009 to ascertain the impact and challenges in the development of renewable energy sector in Ghana.
Mr. Sackniess also said InWEnt’s practice-oriented programs are designed to assist participants in making better decisions. Instruction is offered on interdisciplinary management techniques together with international and intercultural know-how. Further, he said InWEnt is preparing the actors of tomorrow today to work together with developing and transition countries which call for the involvement of all and sundry. There were field visits to many companies involved in solar energy and biomass such as YOKU & KAITO Solar Technology Companies, Moosburg sewage works, AVA company with usage of city dump to generate electricity into the grid network, Solux Company (Solar Light Ghana-Project) MTU Augsburg- producer and operator of industrial biogas works. Biogas plants with various feedstocks such as food leftovers, cow dung, etc, including an integrated biogas plant which utilizes ecological principles in their operations.
The participants have also agreed to create a platform for multi-sectoral approach to implement at least one demonstration project to showcase the various renewable energy technologies and also increase advocacy in the dissemination of renewable energy technologies such as solar energy and biomass. Seventeen out of twenty (20) participants, that was originally selected, embarked on this trip to participate in the seminar in Bavaria-Germany.
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