Knowledge Pele Renewable Energy Technology Skills Programme

Knowledge Pele developed the Renewable Energy Skills Programme in 2021. The Solar Photovoltaic System Design and Installation is a SETA-accredited skills programme. This move was taken after the stakeholders in our energy communities expressed the need for the provision of a skills development programme that will enable the youth in vulnerable communities to be employable, entrepreneurial and have access to higher institutions of learning.

The Renewable Energy Technology Skills Programme was then launched in our flagship energy community of Touwsrivier in March 2022 as a pilot programme, with a total of 13 learners.

The Solar PV System Design and Installation skills programme is a NQF level 4 programme, and is intended to prepare communities to move towards a greener economy and create opportunities for using new technologies, in entrepreneurship and the market. The skills programme provides the Touwsrivier community with renewable energy literacy and green economy knowledge.

At the end of this Renewable Energy Technology Skills Programme, learners will be able to:

• Promote health and safety at the workplace
• Construct basic electronic circuits
• Design stand-alone renewable energy systems
• Design solar/wind hybrid systems
• Fault finding using a photovoltaic system

The overall takeaways for learners are to be able to demonstrate the following key abilities:

• Design
• Install
• Problem solve
• Maintain the solar photovoltaic systems.

This pilot programme was deemed successful and it was expanded to other vulnerable communities, such as Prieska, in the Northern Cape and Kanana village in Bronkhorstspruit. Overall, we want to see the direct impact on the 32 students currently enrolled in the programme and see how the knowledge obtained improves the quality of lives in those communities.