Renewable Energy Based Electricity
Generating Systems for Rural Development
Systems, Applications, Economics
    

The Institute of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Technologies (ISEET) is offering a training program for young engineers and high school graduates (including technical schools) and technician in the field of Renewable Energy (RE) utilization for sustainable development with special emphasis on design, operation, and installation of various energy systems using multiple sources.
The program is designed for students and other interested individuals with little or no experience in the field of RE. However, it should create a more knowledgeable workforce for those looking to employ workers for installation of various RE industries including wind, solar, Biomass and mini-hydro power systems.

The program has the following objectives:

1. To increase the understanding of the technical requirements, equipment options, and capital and operating costs for the use of renewable energy systems, both as stand-alone units and hybrid power plants, for small and large-scale rural electric power delivery.
2. To demonstrate the technical, economic, and institutional feasibility of sustainable large-scale diffusion and application of renewable units and hybrid power systems to the people of rural areas.
3. To enable trainees to integrate the use of renewable energy systems into their electrification activities.

     The role of energy as an essential element for social and economic development has been recognized by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Commission for sustainable development (CSD–14), and the international development community. Therefore, energy became a major player in the strategies achieving the MDGs. To enhance the role of energy in development it became a necessity to address barriers to energy delivery to remote and rural communities (the people who do not have access to grid electricity).

      Moreover, it should be noted that a successful development strategy should consider educating people about available energy resources and how they can be utilized to improve all aspects of their life (including adding value to their products and services). This is equally important parameter as providing energy access. In other words, it is important to build capacity and develop manpower in the field of energy resource planning and management and practical energy solutions. This action is critical to improve access to high impact low cost and modular energy sources to larger number of the population especially those living in rural areas. It is therefore, important to look into the opportunities offered by various renewable
energy technologies to satisfy these requirements and to enhance the role of energy education and provide necessary training to facilitate utilization of those technologies.