CENTRAL UNIVERSITY GOES GREEN WITH THE INAUGURATION OF 400KWP GROUND MOUNT SOLAR FARM

One more leadership feat was achieved by Central University yesterday 15th October,2019 when the new PV 401 kWp Ground Mount Solar system was commissioned at the Miotso Campus near Dawhenya.

The solar system which is expected to sufficiently provide for the energy needs of the  Miotso campus is a tripartite project involving Yingli Namene West Africa, Central University and financed by Ecoligo.

The facility  is split and installed on two sites on campus. Site one is divided into two parts; A and B, connecting the Academic, Administration, hostels and Students Plaza, making it possible for students to utilise energy from solar in their apartments.

Delivering his speech at the commissioning, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Bill Buenar Puplampu expressed his appreciation to all who have worked tirelessly to make this project a reality. He particularly thanked the Registrar, Mr Emil Afenyo for ensuring that this solar project was executed in good time. He added that Central University was very happy to explore cleaner and cost effective options to handling its energy needs. He noted that for institutions and industries in the tropics which is blessed with an abundance of sunshine, creative and progressive social funding options like that of Ecoligo was very timely resource that can be leveraged to harness solar and green energy whiles saving cost in the long run. He also indicated that the solar farm will be a helpful facility to the Schools of Engineering and Technology as well as other disciplines in the applied sciences for study and research into renewable energy sources.

On his part, the Deputy Director of Renewable Electricity at the Ministry of Energy, Ing. Seth Agbeve Mahu disclosed that the government plans to achieve a 100% electricity coverage by 2025 using Solar energy as a key vehicle. He indicated that this was part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which targets universal coverage by 2030. He commended Central University for once again leading the way in this direction and promised Government’s commitment to creating a safe and enabling environment for businesses to thrive.He called on the university to do its best to maintain this very important installation.

The marketing manager at Ecoligo, Ms Emma Patmore in her speech said,”We are particularly excited that Central University extended its foresight into the supply of energy to meet its needs. This is a step in the right direction, one that will reduce cost and allow for increased investments in infrastructure to accommodate more students, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and make the campus more friendly to students and staff alike and signal to the academic community in Ghana that living the talk is more than teaching it.

She reiterated the fact that for the education sector, there is an urgent need to cut cost as much as is possible. “This is needed to help bring schools fees down for our wards to benefit and we see solar as one of the cost-saving mechanisms that institutions in the knowledge sharing and impacting space must look to with agility and excitement” she added.

The colorful ceremony was well attended by members of the university community, representatives from the Energy Commission of Ghana, sister Universities and other players in the solar energy industry. Mr Firmin Nguessan Nkamleu, the managing director of Yingli Namene West Africa thanked the University for agreeing to do business with them. The solar farm is expected to provide power for at least 20 years.