By Jones Anlimah
Kpando Senior High School in the Kpando Municipality of the Volta region has emerged winner of the 2024 Volta Regional edition of the Energy Commission’s Senior High School Renewable Energy Challenge.
The challenge which seeks to promote energy research and development among senior high school students, saw Kpando Senior High outperform five other schools in the region, scoring 72.5 points to emerge victors.
The Energy Commission’s Renewable Energy Challenge in senior high schools seeks to promote innovation in renewable energy and facilitate mentorship programs to help students develop their ideas into viable and game changing solutions. This year’s challenge is themed “Application of Renewable Energy Technologies in Solving Land Degradation and Water Pollution.”
Six senior high schools participated in the 2024 Volta regional edition. The schools were Tsito Senior High Technical School, Kpedze SHS, Ola SHS, Sogakope SHS, Kpando SHS and Anlo senior high school.
The Volta regional Director of Education Mr Francis Agbemadi, said the Renewable Energy Challenge and its theme this year emphasize the critical role of renewable energy technologies in addressing environmental issues such as land degradation and water pollution. According to him it is inspiring to see students actively engaged in research and innovation. He added that the directorate is committed to supporting efforts through mentorship and development programmes.
“The them for this year’s challenge ‘Application of Renewable Energy Technologies in Solving Land Degradation and Water Pollution’ is both timely and essential in an era marked by the acceleration of harmful human activities such as illegal mining, indiscriminate waste disposal, unapproved fishing methods, burning of plastic waste and sand weaning, the urgency for sustainable solutions has never been greater,” Mr Agbemadi noted.
The Director in charge of Finance at the Energy Commission Mr Gilbert Hammond, said the Renewable Energy Challenge is an initiative that does not only fosters innovation among students but also aligns with the commission’s goal of sustainable energy development. He noted that the commission will continue to support the initiative which encourages young minds to develop practical solutions to address environmental issues.
“The challenge was born out of the Commission’s mandate under the Renewable Energy Act of 2011, Act 832, which seeks to promote the development and efficient use of renewable energy through public education, training and regulation of entrepreneurship in the sector. It is also to facilitate the mainstreaming of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and programmes into the curriculum of education and training institutions.”, Mr Hammond remarked.
Tsito SHTS built and presented on water purification system using solar energy while Kpedze SHS did a presentation on K.gasifier which turns plastic waste into clean energy for a cleaner community. Ola SHS did a presentation on renewable drainage system to turn flooding waters into electricity while Sogakope SHS built and presented on a sanitation amphibian that collects waste materials from both land and water
Kpando SHS’ presentation was on an aqua waste collector to collect waste materials from water bodies and using waste materials to produce building and furniture products with Anlo SHS presenting on controlled gasification and deionization to control water pollution and land degradation.
At the end of the challenge Kpando Senior High emerged winner with 72.5 points with Sogakope and Ola claiming the 2nd and 3rd spots with 68.8 and 58 points respectively. Former regional and national champions Kpedze SHS placed 4th with 57.8, Anlo SHS came 5th with 57.6 points with Tsito SHTS obtaining the 6th position with 56 point.
By their victory Kpando Senior High School has dethroned Kpedze SHS regional champion in the 3rd edition and Sogakope SHS, the current National champion in the 4th edition at the regional level and will represent the region at the national event. It however awaits other regional champions to lock horns for the national challenge later in the year.
Certificates of participation were presented to students and teachers of participation schools.
