The first SOLTRAIN+ SADC Utilisation Training Workshop for Experts and Professionals was successfully held from 07–08 April 2025 in Lilongwe, Malawi. Organised by SACREEE with funding from the Austrian Development Agency, the training was hosted by Lilongwe Technical College in collaboration with the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) and the Ministry of Energy, Malawi. Officially opened by Mr. Richard Chirwa, Director of Technical and Vocational Training in the Ministry of Labour, Malawi, the workshop aimed at introducing solar thermal technology and supporting the train-the trainer initiative.
A total of 35 participants (of which 11 were female) drawn from solar industry experts, TVET instructors and representatives from government engaged in a combination of theoretical and practical sessions on solar thermal system design, energy storage and system application. The training was facilitated by Professor Samson Mhlanga from the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe and was very well received by participants, many of whom expressed the need for more hands-on and field-based training to deepen their understanding of the technology.
Workshop Outcomes:
● The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SACREEE and TEVETA to collaborate in the delivery of a training programme in Solar Thermal energy utilization under the SOLTRIAN+ project as well as development of solar thermal unit standards.
● Request from Malawi to integrate solar thermal training into Malawi’s education system, further supporting energy security and workforce readiness.
● Call for strong participation of women in the energy sector was noted.
● Recommendation on future training sessions to make deliberate efforts to include other professionals, particularly plumbers, to ensure the holistic application and sustainability of solar thermal technologies.
