N$900 000 Lab Equipment Upgrade for NUST’s Namibia Energy Institute

NUST officially unveiled an Advanced Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Trainer Suite worth over N$900 000. The suite was generously donated by the Government of Japan through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marking a significant step forward in advancing renewable energy education and training. 

This trainer suite is already in high demand and is currently being utlised by engineering students for practical experiments in renewable energy generation and grid coupling. 

H.E Mr Shinichi Asazuma, the Ambassador of Japan to Namibia, said “innovation goes hand in hand with capacity-building," which is why all projects supported by the Japanese Government directly impact beneficiaries through training with sustainability in mind. 

Prof Erold Naomab, the NUST Vice-Chancellor, emphasised the significance of the donation in building capacity for Namibia’s clean energy future, adding that it forms part of a broader Japan-funded project implemented by the UNDP in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform. He highlighted that the NEI implemented this project in collaboration with the Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre from Zambia and the Institute for Decentralised Electrification, Entrepreneurship and Education from Ulm University in Germany. As a result of this partnership, five short, specialised courses were offered. These courses, he explained, were “carefully selected to form the foundation of a suite of training modules for the Bachelor of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for Trainers, which is currently at an advanced stage of approval at NUST.”

More than 37 instructors from both public and private TVET institutions as well as engineering lecturers from NUST and the University of Namibia participated in this training programme, he noted. Prof Naomab further acknowledged that over N$1 million has been invested in training and laboratory infrastructure thus far, with continued efforts underway to establish a central green energy laboratory that can serve both TVET institutions and universities nationwide. 

NUST extends its sincere gratitude to the Government and People of Japan, UNDP, and all project partners for their continued support in building Namibia’s technical capacity for a sustainable energy transition.