TH-Wildau - News
Renewable Energy for Sub-Saharan West Africa: Second Successful Conference on the Sustainability of Energy Systems in West Africa
The German-African Conference on Sustainable Renewable Energy Systems (SusRES'2021) took place for the second time on 6 April 2021. The organisers from the University of Kara (Togo) and TH Wildau were able to consolidate their cooperation and build on the success of last year's conference series. Compared to the previous year, the number of participants even doubled. 30 technical papers were presented at the conference. Once again, 26 renowned scientists from four continents took part in the review process. The highlight of the event was the opening of the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems (cenRES) at Kara University. The President of TH Wildau and the President of the University as well as the German Ambassador to Togo, H.E. Matthias Veltin, also took part.
Building on the very positive experience of the first German-African Conference for Sustainable, Renewable Energy Systems SusRES in summer 2020, the organisation team from Kara University in Togo and Wildau University of Applied Sciences (TH Wildau) set themselves high goals for the continuation of the conference series this year. And with great success. he commitment was rewarded with twice as many enquiries, participants and reports on current research and transfer topics in the field of sustainability and renewable energies. In order to meet international quality standards, the organising team had set up a review process for the contributions, which was accompanied by an international scientific committee. 26 renowned actors from science and universities supported this process with their expertise. A top-class and exciting programme was thus put together for the conference on 6 April 2021.
Twelve time zones and four continents in one conference
The hybrid conference reached 90 participants in four continents - from Sancti Spiritus in Cuba to Shanghai in China in twelve time zones. A special challenge for the nine-hour event, which rarely has to be taken into account when organising in presence. Besides Germany and Togo, the audience and speakers came from Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, China, Cuba and Switzerland.
Prof. Dr Ulrike Tippe, President of TH Wildau and Prof. Komla Sanda, President of Kara University opened the conference, followed by the keynote speech of a visionary for the use of decentralised, regenerative energy. In his presentation on his company TomEnSo (= Tomorrow's Energy Solutions), Klaus Naderer showed a way to increase the gross domestic product (GDP) in African countries by up to six percent by providing energy. The potential ways to achieve these goals were then shown and discussed in 30 presentations in the parallel sessions. The presentations included a wide mixture of scientific depth and practical application orientation.
Opening of the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems
One highlight was the opening of the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems (cenRES Centre). In his speech, the German Ambassador to Togo, H.E. Matthias Veltin, emphasised the importance of cooperation between the countries of the region: "(...) to provide an effective means of countering climate change as well as poverty. Renewable energies, especially electrical energy, bring impulse, communication and driving power for machines to the region. They thus contribute to economic development and social participation."
University of Kara future focal point for training and research in the field of renewable energies in West Africa
Together with the actors from Germany, the university in Kara wants to be a contact point for training and research in the field of renewable energies and thus offer a platform for joint approaches to solutions.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Reiff-Stephan, project coordinator on the German side and Vice-President for Studies and Learning at the TH Wildau, said in his keynote speech on behalf of the event team: "Once again, the idea of the sustainable use of energy has proved to be a driving force for intensive scientific cooperation and student exchange. For the Sub-Saharan region of West Africa in particular, knowledge of the correct use of renewable energy sources is becoming an important precondition for further social development and economic recovery. We would like to thank in particular H.E, Ambassador Matthias Veltin, for his impulse for the event and his support for the establishment of the cenRES Centre".
Young Researcher Awards go to reserachers from Benin and Togo
Another highlight of the programme was award ceremony for the "Young Researcher Award“ , whihc was given to two students from the West Africa region. The contributions of Dèdonougbo Alfred DOHOU from the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Cotonou (Benin) with the paper "Optimization of biogas production by co-digestion of organic waste (cow dung and water hyacinth)" and of Arafat FOUSSENI from the University of Kara (UK), Kara (Togo) with the contribution "Static and dynamic evaluation of wind potential in the Kara region of Togo using artificial neural networks" in the field of renewable energy systems convinced the jury.
Background information
Renewable energies are an important and forward-looking economic factor in the south of the Sahara. Where there is no electricity, there is little light and even fewer opportunities for education and culture in the Savannah region of West Africa. Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), TH Wildau launched the HAW.International project to create opportunities for networking science and business with the region. Within the framework of the project, a centre for sustainable, regenerative energy systems will be established at the University of Kara with the support of German experts. The city of Kara is the third largest city in Togo and one of the most important economic centres in the region.
Web: en.th-wildau.de/susres2021
About Technische Hochschule Wildau – University of Applied Sciences
Founded in 1991, TH Wildau has around 3,700 students, over 100 professors and 36 engineering, economics, law and administrative science degree programmes. Its focus is on mechanical engineering, automation technology, life sciences, logistics, aeronautical engineering and administrative science. The university has been headed by Prof. Ulrike Tippe since 2017.
Contact
Prof. Dr. Jörg Reiff-Stephan
Technische Hochschule Wildau - University of Applied Sciences
Hochschulring 1, 15745 Wildau (Germany)
Tel.: +49 3375 508 418
E-Mail: joerg.reiff-stephan(at)th-wildau.de
Web: en.th-wildau.de/susres2021