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.

The overall aim of this course is to train engineers, technicians and students in basic electrical fundamentals and skills in designing, installing, operating, and maintaining off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems specifically solar mini grid. 

In relation to the design and installation of Solar PV Systems, at the end of this training programme, course participants shall be able to:

1. Design a solar PV mini-grid system for a given community;
2. Prepare tools and materials necessary to complete and installation;
3. Position, mount, and wire solar cell modules;
4. Wire the controller, inverter and batteries and be able to lay the cables;
5. Inspect to final connections;
6. Commission the system.

In relation to the maintenance of the system, at the end of this training programme, course participants shall be able to:

1. Maintain a solar electric system;
2. Perform routine maintenance tasks for:
   • The battery;
   • The modules;
   • The wiring;
   • The controller
   • The loads.

1. Role of Solar Energy in Sustainable Development

2. Fundamentals of Solar Energy

3. Basics of Electricity

4. Solar Cell Modules

5. Batteries

6. Charge Controllers, Load Management, Inverters

7. Lamps and Appliances

8. Wiring and Fittings

9. Installing Solar Electric Systems

10. Maintaining and Servicing Solar Electric Systems

11. Designing Off-grid Solar Energy Systems

Engineers, technicians, and any suitably qualified personnel requiring a basic understanding of the concepts, principles, and practices of off-grid solar system design and installation.