10 Jun 2019

Green Energy and Sustainability Association (GESA), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) on June 8 organised a workshop for the community of Gakuto to inform them of the potential of renewable energy. and how they can take action and install green energy systems in their homes or institutions.

Vice Chairperson of GESA Ms Motlalepula Tabona told the participants, who included primary school pupils, that the organisation’s role was to ensure effective development of renewable technologies and mitigation of climate change for sustainable development.  

Therefore through their concerted efforts with other stakeholders in the energy sector, they aim was to make the country a renewable energy champion by 2023.

Ms Tabona noted that although Botswana had been a signatory to several protocols and agreements that aimed at shifting to environmental friendly industrial practices to de-carbonise the economy and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, the implementation of these agreements had been a challenge due to lack of knowledge and skills.  

Hence, she said that they had taken a stance to develop strategies to facilitate the use of renewables and clean engineering practices.

She further stated that renewable energy technologies were enough to create green jobs and diversify the economy.

GESA member, Mr Obuile Morewane informed the participants about the different systems that used green energy.  

He also stated that solar energy could be used to make almost anything.  

He cited, for instance, that there were solar water-heating systems and solar drying systems that could be used in the farming business or in the meat industry, among others.

Morewane again suggested that in the case of Botswana, where 80 per cent of villages were connected to the national grid, the remaining 20 per cent of villages in rural areas could be electrified by using solar energy.  

He also told the participants that there was a correlation between darkness and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country by displaying a satellite picture of the map showing Africa at night.  

The picture showed that most parts of Africa were dark at night when compared to European countries.  

He said the picture showed the relation between GDP versus lighting at night.  

In simple terms, the darker the country is at night translates to a small GDP because there is no economic activity at night, hence most African countries including Botswana are still performing below par in economic terms.

The participants were also taught how they could determine how much electricity their appliances consumed in their households.  

He however stated that in order for government to show commitment to sustainable green technologies and energy security, it should hasten to promote Independent Power Producers through the implementation of the energy policy, which has long been drafted.  

He said such things as tax reliefs and incentives by government to producers  could promote the use of green energy.

Furthermore, Morewane said that Botswana was supposed to receive 15 per cent of renewables in 2016 instead only one per cent, which was received through the solar power plant stationed at Phakalane.  

He therefore emphasised the need by government to set targets on the national strategy as well as visible goals.

Meanwhile, participants were happy for the enlightenment and suggested that renewable energy sources were much needed at cattle posts and at the lands to increase economic activity even in rural areas.

In that way, they opined that the country would be able to increase food production.

Through their efforts to facilitate the use of renewable energy, GESA will this week hand over solar flood lights to Gakuto Primary School.

GESA was officially incorporated in Botswana Society’s Act in January last year.  

The association was founded by a group of engineers and scientists who are concerned about the energy status of the country and the climate change challenges faced worldwide. ENDS