Off-Grid Podcasts

GREEN recorded a series of podcasts in the frame of our project for Ethiopian NGO ADRA. GREEN Content Director Vivian spoke to different industry experts to get in-depth info on off-grid PV topics. The podcasts are part of the eLearning course called PV Off-Grid Technician that GREEN created on behalf of ADRA.

Understanding Renewable Energy
GREEN Solar Academy directors Antje Klauss-Vorreiter and Vivian Bluemel discuss the definition of renewable energy, its uses, possibilities and limitations.

Components of an Off-Grid PV System
Alessio Alario from Phocos (Germany) helps us to understand solar components, and their use and function in different PV systems. Special focus on solar charge controllers and inverters.

Sizing an Off-Grid PV System
Russom Semere from Phaseun (Germany) draws attention to the methods, challenges and common mistakes made in sizing of solar PV systems.

The Importance of Site Assessment
Dave Mathews from Sunergy (Zimbabwe) explains how to identify client needs, what information to document during a site visit and what to consider when planning an off-grid solar PV system.

Installation of Off-Grid PV Systems
Samson Tsegaye from Solar Energy Foundation (Ethiopia) talks us through the installation of an off-grid solar PV system from preparation of the site to commissioning of the plant, what to look out for and what to avoid.

Troubleshooting of Off-Grid PV Systems
Steve Harris from JVS Projects (Zimbabwe) discuss troubleshooting procedures, typical faults and recommended repairs for off-grid PV Systems.

Maintenance and Monitoring
Yonas Workie from Suntransfer Tech PLC (Ethiopia) goes into detail about online monitoring of systems, the physical maintenance challenges posed by remote systems and the involvement of an end user in the system maintenance.

A worldwide shortage of specialists and skilled workers

How do companies find new bright minds? What do you have to look out for if you want to train people abroad yourself? What makes the German dual system so special? And what exactly is a foreign skilled worker? This German podcast episode is dedicated to these questions and presents ways out of the misery. Vivian Blümel and Antje Klauß-Vorreiter were guests speakers.

All about GREEN Solar Academy

In this episode of “Grenzenlos” is all about the GREEN Solar Academy, which is active in the field of solar energy. It all started in Thuringia, but the company is now based in South Africa. One of the current projects is the “West Africa Solar Hub”, a loose association of German companies. And the driving force behind it was a business scout. Antje Klauß-Vorreiter was a guest in this episode.

Shortage of skilled workers

Plenty of sun, but no skilled workers – even in Africa, the modules don’t make it onto the roof. In this episode Antje Klauß-Vorreiter was a guest speaker and covers the topic of skills shortage in the solar industry.