India offers training in solar energy to foreign professionals

The Ministry of External Affairs is facilitating a programme to train professionals from Nepal, Afghanistan and many other African countries in solar energy system under the ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) fellowship programme.

The National Institute of Solar Energy, a Delhi-based government institute, has been imparting solar energy training programme to these foreign professionals.

There are 30 students on a three-week training programme.

The course module covers the basics of system design in photo voltaic for generating electricity from solar energy and thermal applications. The course also covers general aspect of economics and climate change.

The training programmes develops better understanding in generating electricity from solar power and efficient use of materials for standardized output.

Solar Energy programmes between India and Nepal generate expertise which in turn will help to improve the renewable energy sector.

Arun Neupane, who works as lecturer in Kathmandu, believes that the training in India will help him to promote solar energy in Nepal.

"Generally there is not any centre which is just only focused on solar energy just there is renewable energy centre or centre of energy studies. It is very broader, solar sector, bio mass sector and hydro power sector and there is not any specific ministry under which for renewable energy for the whole energy system that why the expertise I found more in India," said Neupane.

Nepal has a huge potential in hydro power, however, it generates only 600 MW due to unavailability of infrastructure.

Generating energy from solar power will mitigate the power crisis in the country.

"Nepal has good potential of course. There are so many remote places so they have been implementing the solar lighting and these kinds of programmes help quite a lot. So last time when they came here there were two participants, one was a teacher and another was an entrepreneur. They came from abroad and settled in Nepal and started spreading the message after going from here," said DR. P.C. Pant, Scientist and Director, National Institute of Solar Energy, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

There are professionals from countries like Syria, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, who are studying the advantages of solar as a medium of renewable energy.

Mohammed Mujeeb Barekzai, who works in an electricity utility unit in Kabul, feels that Afghanistan needs solar energy to fulfill their requirement.

"Things that I am learning here are very applicable in Afghanistan and I will try build, design and offer more solar energy plants and in some parts I will try, in Afghanistan is hilly and some part is mountainous country the grid cannot go and I will try to offer them solar panels, it will be economically better and very cheaper" said Barekzai.

Many countries in the world are facing power crisis and solar energy is a viable solution for future needs.

India has been partnering with developing countries in improving resource development. Students from Afghanistan and Nepal have been imparted skill development trainings in various institutions in India.