In October 2008, an Electronic and Electrical Engineering (EEE) department project was given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government. The purpose of the project was to undertake a solar-powered study focusing on installations in four rural communities in Malawi.
Academic and research staff in the department received funds to work with partners in Malawi under the Malawi Development Programme of the Scottish Government's International Development Fund.
The Community Rural Electrification and Development (CRED) project received approximately £140,000 in funds from the Scottish Government. It ran for two-and-half years from 1 October 2008.
The project sought to establish a sustainable model for renewable energy development in Malawi, where power supplies in rural areas are very rare. At that time, only 7% of the population had an electricity supply.
The sustainable model focused on strong community involvement in the electricity supply, from scoping and design through to installation and in-life maintenance.
Staff from EEE and Mechanical Engineering worked with four rural communities and the Government of Malawi's Energy Department. They established resources, training, and support for rural communities to own and benefit from their solar-powered electricity supply.
Another element of the sustainability of the project was that the solar power systems were financed through a microfinance fund. That brought financial responsibility to the communities. It was also an opportunity to grow enterprises that had the potential to generate income to pay for the installation.
The project also included working closely with academics at the University of Malawi Polytechnic in Blantyre. They had a member of staff funded to support the design, installation, and monitoring of the equipment. This facilitated the retention of knowledge and experience in Malawi when the project finished.
One EEE researcher was in Malawi on secondment. They acted as the local project manager for the CRED project.
Two Scottish project partners with knowledge, skills, and interest in this area were also involved in the project:
- Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE)
- Community Energy Scotland
They supported communities in Scotland to develop renewable energy projects.
Integrated within the first-year undergraduate course, students from EEE gained knowledge of the involvement of the department in the CRED project.
Working in small groups as part of their EE104 course, students conducted background research on energy use in developing countries. They also designed an electrical system for a medical clinic in a rural African community.