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Tamale Technical University participated in this year’s African Conference on Education and Skills Development held at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. A team comprising some selected staff and students from the Department of Electrical/Electronics Engineering, represented the University.
The conference brought together leading experts in education, policymakers, and key industry players to discuss and emphasize the critical importance of education and skills development in Africa. It also provided a platform for researchers and innovators from technical universities in Ghana to showcase their brilliant innovations.
TaTU’s team exhibited a Portable Renewable Power Generation and Management System, which won a second place in the competition, earning the University a plague and a prize of ¢10,000 cedis. This achievement is a testament of hard work, dedication, and creativity, as well as the invaluable guidance and support the supervisor and research director.
The conference was also meant to address challenges of conventional method of setting up solar energy systems in Ghana which involved importing solar panels and installing these panels in fixed locations, which means incuring higher import duties due to the bulkiness of the panels, and this significantly increases the overall cost of the solar energy setup. The static setup also restricts the usability and flexibility of the solar energy harvested because electricity is often needed in various remote areas or mobile contexts. For instance, electricity is often critically required at police barriers on highways, Electoral Commission ballot counting processes at night, and enabling students in remote areas to study or prepare for exams.
The challenges posed by the conventional fixed-location setup necessitate exploring alternative solutions that enable solar energy to be used in a more flexible and mobile context. Portable solar energy systems could be an effective answer to these challenges. These systems can be transported easily to various locations, ensuring electricity is available wherever and whenever needed. Additionally, locally assembling solar panels can help reduce import duties and support local labor markets. Thus, our Portable Renewable Power Generation and Management System aims to provide a portable and cost-effective solar energy solution that addresses these limitations and meets the diverse energy needs in various locations.
The Approach Adopted
To address the challenges above, it was concluded that, imported solar cells are assembled locally to reduce transportation and import duties. And build a lightweight, easy-to-transport, and cost-efficient portable solar generator for various uses, such as emergencies, camping, outdoor events, and remote locations. The solar generator can power both DC and AC loads and comes with a 12v battery for storage. Additionally, we developed a solar tracking system to adjust the position of the solar panels for maximum harvesting of solar energy/fast charging of the storage and an intelligent power management system for real-time tracking and automated control of power distribution to and usage of the various loads to ensure optimal use of the generated power.
The team at the Exhibition Booth
Award Ceremony
Project Demonstration
