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The 5th Edition of the Energy Commission Senior High Schools Renewable Energy Challenge has been held in Accra with Kpando Senior High School in the Volta Region, emerging winners among the 109 schools who participated in the competition.
The Challenge, initiated in 2019, was meant to provide education and create awareness on renewable energy resources and technologies to students in Senior High and Technical Schools in the country.
Organised by the Ministry of Energy, Ghana Education Service (GES), and Ghana TVET Service, this year’s competition was on the theme: ‘Application of Renewable Energy Technologies in Solving Land Degradation and Water Pollution.’
The topic for the project for Kpando SHS was: “Harnessing plastic as gold.”
For its prize, Kpando SHS received GH¢210,000, made up of cash price of GH¢25,000, five laptops, 55 pieces of solar lamps, 20 pieces of solar wall lights, 25 pieces of LED streetlights, 25 pieces of GAST books, a 5KW solar PV system, certificate for participants, a plaque and branded souvenirs.
Dabokpa Technical Institute, who took the second position, presented a project: “Smart Purifix System project, an innovative water purification solution, that seeks to address the critical issue of water pollution caused by illegal mining, agricultural runoff, and other contaminants.”
St James Seminary and Senior High School, who took the third position, made a presentation on “Acqua cleaner project,” an innovative boat using local materials such as gallons, barrels, and PVC pipes that collect plastics floating on the surface of water bodies.
The other schools, OLA Girls’ Secondary School, Kenyasi, Obuasi Senior High Technical School, and Ahantaman Girls’ Senior High School also made presentations on “the Aqua care project”, “Development of NSU-PA technique using micro turbine” and “Royal water purification” project respectively.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday the Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia, said competition offered a deal of opportunities in seeking solutions to land degradation and water pollution through renewable energy and clean energy.
Having started five years ago, she noted that, the initiative had become an essential platform for showcasing the creativity and innovation of young minds while advancing the national agenda on renewable energy.
“As we confront the global threat of climate change, it is essential that we adopt sustainable practices across all sectors.
And I believe that the projects and solutions that our students will be presenting today can help solve some of these challenges,” she added.
This, Mrs Bawumia called on institutions and partners to support the growth and commercialisation of these projects, adding that, “by fostering innovation and adopting green technologies, we can ensure a healthy environment for our future generations.”
“I look forward to seeing all the solutions you have developed to address the challenges of land gradation and water pollution using renewable energy,” she noted.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Collins Adomako-Mensah, in his remarks said, it was important to get the youth involved not only in the discussions about Renewable Energy but directly involved in innovations that align with the net-zero agenda.
He emphasised that the competition would not only create awareness but also demonstrate the usefulness of renewable energy in solving everyday problems.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA
