The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) in collaboration with the Energy Commission has established a Sustainable Energy Services Centers in three tertiary institutions in Ghana to train and certify professionals.

The institutions, which are the Accra Technical University (ATU), the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Energy and Natural Resources are the first of its kind in the country with potential to serve entities across the West African sub-region.

This will assist the organisations to adopt and implement cost effective energy saving measures in their operations.

Speaking to Joy Business, the Chief Executive of MiDA, Martin Eson-Benjamin explained that the initiative is part of the Ghana Power Compact aimed to enhancing energy efficiency.

The Sustainable Energy Service Centers (SESCs) are part of the innovative approaches to ensure the efficient use and conservation of power, and have the potential to reach out and serve entities across the country and the West African Sub-region.

He explained that the SESCs form part of the Ghana Power Compact’s Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) Project, funded by the US Govern­ment, through its Agency, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Ghana.

Mr. Eson-Benjamin disclosed that the cost of the components of the Centres, namely the Energy Audit Instruments, Office Furniture, IT Equipment, Website Development and the Vehicle provided to each Centre, amounts to US$ 284,928.

“It is important to add that the Staff in each SESC have been given the requisite technical training on various aspects of Energy Management and Audit through three Certification Programs, namely, the Sustainable Energy Management Professional (SEMP), the Sustainable Energy Audit Professional (SEAP) and the Energy Audit Practical (EAP)”.

On her part, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S Embassy in Ghana, Nicole Chulick said in all, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Ghana Power Compact invested $316 million across Ghana to improve power infrastructure, advance energy efficiency programs, and expand opportunities for women and youth in the power sector.

“With implementing partners at MiDA, and in partnership with entities like the Energy Commission, the Electricity Company of Ghana, the MCC Ghana Power Compact invested $25 million dollars to advance energy efficiency programs to reduce electricity demand, conserve today’s energy resources, and prepare Ghana to address the challenges of a changing global climate”.

She added that the MCC in collaboration also established the first Air Conditioning and Refrigerator Test Laboratory in West Africa at the Ghana Standards Authority to help Ghana enforce its appliance energy efficiency standards and regulations.