The International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding provided by the Government of Sweden, is supporting the Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC) to implement the Skills for Energy in Southern Africa (SESA) Project. This is a three-and-a-half-year intervention with the overall development objective of increasing the uptake of renewable energy, energy efficiency and regional energy integration through skills development in Zambia and the SADC region. It is expected that the project will strengthen KGRTC’s capacity as a Centre of Excellence for energy training in the region and significantly increase the number of power technicians, engineers and managers that are skilled in renewable energy, energy efficiency and regional energy integration. The project will be implemented through a Public Private Public Development Partnership (PPDP) approach.

Gas and steam turbines play a critical role in the delivery of electricity and heat energy. The turbines have built a reputation for being a reliable and flexible technology which forms the backbone of many energy delivery systems. The current drive toward cleaner and carbon-neutral energy production systems will require some changes at all levels – including technology and attitude. The changes include the integration of renewables in the production systems which also present challenges due to their intermittent nature and lack of affordable options for energy storage. Turbines play a role in both stabilizing the grid as well as being key in the uptake of green and carbon neutral fuels. This is an addition to the facilitation of cleaner production by the current use of low-carbon fossil fuels. 

The objective of this course is to provide:

• Participants with the skills needed to operate and manage gas and steam turbines in energy production systems in an environment with increasing demands towards improved grid stability and lower carbon footprint.

At the end of this training programme, course participants shall be able to:

• Identify different parts of a gas turbine power production system;
• Conceptualize a robust power supply system;
• Design future-ready systems;
• Carry out financial evaluations for turbine-based energy production systems.

• Gas Turbine Principles and Steam Turbine Principles
• Combined Cycles Principles and Boilers
• Cogeneration Principles
• Grid Stability and Balancing Principles
• Virtual Pipeline
• Flex Plant
• Investment Evaluation Methods

Personnel that work with operations and maintenance of turbines as well those designing or operating an interconnected power system. The course suits beginners to advanced level users, staff from transmission, distribution, regulatory authorities, IPPs and industrial companies across Africa.