The 5th Edition of the Energy Commission Senior High Schools Renewable Energy Challenge has been held in Accra with Kpando Senior High School in the Volta Region, emerging winners among the 109 schools who participated in the competition.
The Challenge, initiated in 2019, was meant to provide education and create awareness on renewable energy resources and technologies to students in Senior High and Technical Schools in the country.
Organised by the Ministry of Energy, Ghana Education Service (GES), and Ghana TVET Service, this year's competition was on the theme: 'Application of Renewable Energy Technologies in Solving Land Degradation and Water Pollution.' The topic for the project for Kpando SHS was: "Harnessing plastic as gold." For its prize, Kpando SHS received GH¢210,000, made up of cash price of GH¢25,000, five laptops, 55 pieces of solar lamps, 20 pieces of solar wall lights, 25 pieces of LED streetlights, 25 pieces of GAST books, a 5KW solar PV system, certificate for participants, a plaque and branded souvenirs.
Dabokpa Technical Institute, who took the second position, presented a project: "Smart Purifix System project, an innovative water purification solution, that seeks to address the critical issue of water pollution caused by illegal mining, agricultural runoff, and other contaminants." St James Seminary and Senior High School, who took the third position, made a presentation on "Acqua cleaner project," an innovative boat using local materials such as gallons, barrels, and PVC pipes that collect plastics floating on the surface of water bodies.