Training in the operation and maintenance of new electricity supplies in rural Malawi is being supported by the Scottish Government.
Community Energy Malawi (CEM) has been working with a team from the University of Strathclyde to provide energy to schools, clinics and homes in the east African country where the power supply is scarce.
The Scottish Government is giving £100,000 to the project to support training in the operation and maintenance of 43 community energy installations in 12 districts in Malawi until the end of April 2017.
Access to energy in Malawi has been described as “dire”, with only 9% of the population currently having access to grid electricity, leaving 15 million people without power.
The new systems provide electricity to about 10,000 people, the Scottish Government said.
The funding was announced by international development minister Alasdair Allan.
He said: “This is why the Scottish Government has consistently supported Malawi in their efforts to improve energy access across the country.
“Between 2012 and 2015, we provided £2.3 million funding to the Malawi renewable energy access programme, which brought new energy access to nearly 80,000 rural Malawians through a range of technologies from solar-powered schemes to fuel-efficient cookstoves.
“We are also sharing Scotland’s world-class knowledge with a Scottish Government energy policy expert supporting the development of Malawi’s first-ever dedicated renewable energy strategy.
“The funding for CEM will allow them to continue their work of supporting community-level energy access.
“We know this can transform some of the poorest areas by ensuring equipped hospitals, functioning schools and thriving communities.”
Aran Eales, of the Energy for Development Group within the University of Strathclyde, said: “The University of Strathclyde is excited to have this opportunity to continue to work with CEM to support rural communities through the provision and maintenance of renewable energy.
“It’s relatively straightforward to install a solar PV system with grant funding, the difficulty comes in embedding the system within a community to help them learn how to look after it, as well as maximising the social and economic benefits for all members of the community over the lifetime of the project.”
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