Submitted by Puleng Mosothoane
Published 6 years, 3 months ago
Lesotho’s first Solar Thermal Technology Roadmap meeting was held during the second week of October at the Avani Lesotho Hotel in Maseru. Although only 26 of expected 40 participants attended, the gathering consisted of a diverse set of stakeholders in the renewable energy and allied fields, including solar companies, the Department of Energy, Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA), research and academic institutions, sponsors and others.
Puleng Mosothoane from SOLTRAIN Lesotho’s implementation partner organisation, the Bethal Business and Community Development Centre (BBCDC), conducted the welcoming address, followed by a presentation outlining the SOLTRAIN project by Werner Weiss from AEE INTEC. A presentation on solar thermal systems in the Lesotho market and solar thermal applications by Sehlooho Holomo from BBCDC and a presentation on the renewable energy policy and possibilities for co-operation with SOLTRAIN by Dr. Thabang Phuroe from the Department of Energy, were also part of the proceedings.
All participants became the proud owners of a SOLTRAIN t-shirt which we reported on in the previous SOLTRAIN newsletter as part of our awareness-raising activities.
A second meeting is planned for the 18th and 19th of January 2017, preceded by a technical tour to Pitseng, where participants will have the opportunity to observe and learn more about the systems installed there through the SOLTRAIN programme. These include a 3000 litre solar thermal system with 15 collectors, a 2000 litre solar thermal system with 12 collectors and a 5 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system.