Industrial-scale biogas waste-to-energy independent power producer Bio2Watt Energy has entered into a partnership with research and development advisory firm Knowledge Pele to offer skills development in solar photovoltaic (PV) system design and installation in the Kanana community in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng.

The partnership was concluded in July, with funding provided by Climate Investor Two, a fund managed by Climate Fund Managers (CFM) from the Netherlands.

The Kanana informal settlement, home to this training intervention, supports farming communities that are located far away from grid-connected infrastructure such as water and electricity.

This small community is situated in Bronkhorstspruit under the City of Tshwane, with a population of about 3 000 people.

Knowledge Pele implements development programmes focused on enhancing human competencies in vulnerable communities across the country.

Knowledge Pele is implementing the Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) skills programme in the community of Kanana, where off-grid, renewable energy has been identified as a critical need.

This Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority-accredited programme started in August, with ten participants from the community. On successful completion of the programme, these participants will receive credits towards achieving their certificate in Electrical Engineering National Qualification Framework 4.

Moreover, the practical work from this programme will expose the participants to the world of work in RET. This same programme is currently being rolled out in two other communities, namely Touwsrivier in the Western Cape and Prieska in the Northern Cape.

“Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Plant, a subsidiary of Bio2Watt Energy, is extremely excited to be afforded the opportunity together with CFM, to be able to fund a solar PV skills programme in the community in which it operates - Kanana, Bronkhorstspruit.

“We are pleased to embark on this journey of education, discovery and empowerment with the local youth of Kanana in the renewable energy sector,” says Bio2Watt Energy Holdings director Keziah Jooste.