Globally networked for a greener future

It is already possible from a technical and business perspective to continuously supply everyone in the world with electricity from renewable sources – this was the conclusion reached by the international trade fair ‘The smarter E Europe’ in June 2024 in Munich. More than 300 exhibitors at the trade fair demonstrated their innovations in the domains of e-mobility, solar thermal energy, photovoltaics and hydrogen technology. Among the some 110,000 visitors from around the world were 80 Germany alumni. The DAAD enabled them to participate as part of an (SDG = Sustainable Development Goals). ‘There are constant technological innovations in the renewable energies sector and I’m very interested in keeping abreast of them. I established lots of interesting contacts with companies at the trade fair‘, says Dr Evan Murimi, energy manager at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Juja, Kenya. Murimi’s role includes the implementation of technical solutions to improve the energy efficiency at his higher education institution.

Funding sustainability in emerging and developing countries

The SDG Alumni Projects organised by German higher education institutions and the are directed towards scientists and researchers, and towards managers from emerging and developing countries who completed part of their academic education in Germany. The topics are guided by the . The focal point in 2024 included renewable energies. A special feature of the funding programme is that the alumnae and alumni not only come together to visit an international trade fair or convention in the context of the two-week project, they also complete a professional development course at a German higher education institution.

Innovative concepts for solar energy in Kenya

Evan Murimi considered this to be an ideal combination. He has a PhD in electrical engineering and took part in a one-week seminar at the University of Kassel concerning solar technology applications and smart, decentralised supply systems. He’s enthusiastic about the innovative solar cookers that were demonstrated there: ‘Many women in Kenya’s rural areas still cook using firewood and the noxious fumes that they and their children inhale damage their health. Solar-powered stoves would really improve the lives of these families.’ Renewable energy sources, especially the use of geothermal energy and hydro-power, already account for some 90 per cent of the electricity in Kenya.

The next step in Kenya’s energy transition would be a switch in food processing methods, in the transport sector and in industrial and agricultural processes, says Evan Murimi. There are nevertheless many obstacles that remain to be overcome: ‘Despite the cost reductions, solar systems are still too expensive for most people. Some of the systems that Kenya imports are moreover poor quality systems.’ This could also lead to a loss of trust in the new technologies. The global participants at the professional development course in Witzenhausen near Kassel held some very interesting discussions, Murimi believes: ‘We want to build wider networks, to enable us to exchange views on how we can speed up the energy transition in our countries.’

Solar drying to extend the shelf-life of foods

Michelle Limantara, sustainability and product development manager at ‘PT Impack Pratama Industri Tbk’ in Jakarta, Indonesia also took part in the seminar in Witzenhausen. Her employer produces durable and recyclable construction materials based on polymers, including roof coverings and façade elements. In the context of a sustainability programme, the company is also constructing a parabolic solar dryer to improve the country’s food security. ‘Much of the food in Indonesia goes to waste due to improper storage. Our eco-friendly can be used to conserve agricultural products and fish’, says Limantara. She has learned from her own practical experience the importance of decentralised supply systems, especially to remote rural regions, and the associated difficulties that have to be overcome: ‘We also organise training courses for farmers and fishermen to ensure that they’re able to use the solar dryers effectively. This is a major challenge, since many of the islands are remote and difficult to reach.’ Some 43,000 people in Indonesia are nevertheless thought to have benefited from the solar dryers.

Inspiration from different countries

Michelle Limantara feels that it’s decisive in her professional position to have an overview of innovative technologies and proven procedures that could be used in Indonesia, either directly or in an adapted form. ‘I also really love experiencing new cultures and getting to know new people!’ The SDG Alumni Project was deemed to be a great opportunity to do both: ‘I not only learned a lot about the use of at the trade fair and during the professional development course, I was also able to extend my professional network.’ It is considered to be invaluable to have direct contact with researchers and sector specialists when tackling technical issues or meeting challenges in the implementation of a new technology.

Green energies as a success factor in agriculture

There were a total of four professional development courses that took place at German higher education institutions in the context of the SDG Alumni Project. Participants at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences dealt with agricultural digitisation, those at the University of Siegen considered photovoltaics as an opportunity for climate protection and nature conservation within agriculture and in rural areas. Abiodun Olayinka decided on the ‘Entrepreneurship for Agriculture’ course run by the University of Leipzig. This plant breeding expert, who as a DAAD scholarship holder has just completed his dissertation at the University of Ghana in Accra, sees the use of decentralised and at the same time more affordable alternative energy sources as being hugely significant for his home country, Nigeria: ‘Access to the power supply in Nigeria is severely restricted due to very frequent power cuts. Electricity prices are constantly rising without corresponding service improvements.’ This is felt to be a major burden – not just for private households, but also for the economy.

‘I’ve learned a lot that will help me realise my dream.’

Abiodun Olayinka collected over a hundred visiting cards from ‘’ events. He is fascinated by the application options offered by the solar-powered pumps, cooling systems and agricultural dryers that were presented at the trade fair: ‘The sunshine is very intense during the dry season in northern Nigeria, where I collaborated with more than a thousand rice growers over a three and a half year period. The growers could benefit greatly from deploying solar-powered equipment to irrigate their fields, and after the harvest to cool or dry their products.’ Olayinka plans to set up a business in this sector that develops affordable solutions for the Nigerian market. The topics of his professional development course in Leipzig included the fundamentals of project management and the development of a business model – from business idea to preparation of a business plan and construction of a prototype. He feels that this was very useful in terms of his plans: ‘I’ve learned a lot that will help me realise my dream.’