Page 40 - IB November 2023

RENEWABLE ENERGY (RE) TRAINING AT THE PNG

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Since its inception, PNGUoT has always been a hub of energy training
in several departments such as Electrical Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, Civil Engineering, Applied Physics, Applied Science and
Geographic Information Division at the Dept. of Survey and Land Studies.
Backed by well-funded laboratory and workshop facilities, as well
as a large pool of overseas and locally trained Professors, Lecturers,
Engineers and Technicians, the PNGUoT Sustainable Energy Research
Institute (PNGUoT-SERI) brings together under one umbrella, all human
and infrastructural capacity from all the departments of the University to
provide an all-inclusive Renewable Energy (RE), Photo Voltaic (PV), Wind,
Geothermal, Biomass and Hydro training program at PNGUoT.
RE training at PNGUoT can be classified into three categories.
Category 1
Undergraduate: Undergraduate degrees are awarded in the listed
departments with the options for students to major or carry out their final
year capstone projects in a Renewable Energy field.
Category 2
Post Graduate: Energy-Related MSc, ME, MPhil and PhD degrees are
awarded at PNGUoT to cater for PG Energy Training of Engineers and
Physical Sciences graduates.
In addition to these standard degrees, SERI has been awarded a grant
donated by the UK Government to commence a capacity building program
that will enhance the teaching and Certification of Energy Access, Energy
Infrastructure Management, Design, Implementation and Energy Policy in
the categories mentioned above to Masters and PhD levels. The scope will
also cover relevant topics suitable as mainstream, as well as electives for
PG students in Science, Engineering, Business Studies and Geographic
Information Systems. The program is expected to commence with the first
intake of MSc students in 2024.
Category 3
Solar Design & Installation Certification Short Courses: This is a new
7-module (Solar Design & Installer Certificates I-IV) course that will lead
to the award of a PNGUoT-SERI Accreditation Certificate and Provisional
License in Solar Design and Installation.
PNGUoT-SERI Solar Designer/Installer Training and Certification
Program
This category 3 training comprise of a series of short courses and
specialized modules. The pilot program in Solar, Wind and Hydro is
designed for electrical engineers, licensed and unlicensed electrical
tradesmen actively engaged in the electrical and solar sectors with a
desire to gain modern skills in the design and installation of off-grid and
grid-connected hydro and PV micro and mini-grid systems.
Considering the fact that the renewable energy industry is continuously
changing with new technological advancement and improvements, the
courses and modules will be routinely reviewed and updated accordingly.
This will provide licensed electricians and engineers in PNG and the
Pacific the unique opportunity to routinely update their technical trade and
professional skills. Several new RE courses in the curriculum today were
not in the mainstream syllabus a decade ago. This is due to improvement
and global advancement of solar power infrastructure.
While some aspects of the SERI modules are modelled after an Australian
State University Curriculum (aligned to the Australian Clean Energy
Council requirements), some modules were shaped by the World Bank/
United Nations/ADB sponsored training program provided to Developing
countries. The SEAPI recommendations and certification proposals for
pacific solar designers and installers were also taken into consideration.
The renewable energy goals of the Government of PNG and other
Pacific Nations will become realistic if the issues of capacity building are
addressed.
- SERI Secretariat 2023

N.B: For more information on renewable energy programs offered at the
PNG University of Technology and/or PNGUoT Sustainable Energy Research Institute,
email seri.2018@pnguot.ac.pg or visit www.unitech.ac.pg

40 Islands Business, November 2023 Sponsored Content