As Lesotho is stepping into a brighter, greener future, the SOLTRAIN+ Project and the Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) have taken up the challenge to drive the uptake of Solar Thermal Technologies. From industries to schools and households, solar thermal energy is changing how Basotho power their lives.
Earlier this year, ERC held an eye-opening information session at Kick 4 Life in Maseru. Entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector and Policy Makers gathered to learn how solar thermal systems can power buildings, slash energy bills, and move the nation closer to its green energy ambitions. A guided tour of the solar thermal system recently installed at Machabeng College under the SOLTRAIN+ co-financing accelerator program showed just how powerful the sun can be. In just three months, Machabeng had already cut its energy costs in half! The system clearly sparked curiosity in the entire Machabeng community. In response, the ERC in collaboration with Women in Sustainable Energy Lesotho, a female-led association, held a career guidance session for Machabeng College students focused on gender, diversity, and opportunity sharing. Young female energy entrepreneurs and academics shared not just success stories, but blueprints for turning innovation into impactful opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Sustainable Energy, and Green Entrepreneurship.
As champions of education and hands-on training, the ERC and AEE INTEC partners through the SOLTRAIN+ Project are working to grow Lesotho’s technical skills in solar thermal technology. They have rolled out targeted Training of Trainers (ToT) for University and Vocational School instructors, and held specialized Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) training for private companies. These sessions provided practical skills and tools to advance green growth and entrepreneurship in Lesotho. ERC’s vision for the SOLTRAIN+ Project is not just academic, it is deeply rooted in community development. In collaboration with SOLTRAIN+, the centre has led a series of successful renewable energy campaigns in towns such as Hlotse, Maputsoe and Mohale’ Hoek. In a week's time, Teya-Teyaneng will add to the list.
These lively outreach events raise awareness about locally available green energy solutions and spread the word about the environmental and economic benefits of solar energy. With support from SOLTRAIN+ and AEE INTEC, ERC is determined to make sustainable energy not just a policy buzzword, but a practical, everyday solution for communities across Lesotho. There is a plethora of activities on the horizon, promising more outreach, more engagement, and even more impact on Basotho communities.
