Sustainable Energy Technologies (PhD SETs)

Background of Course

Energy is now widely recognised as a critical input for achieving sustainable development.  To help vital sectors of sub Sahara Africa (SSA) economies such as agriculture, education and health meet expectations to modern energy services and to develop facilities like water resources for small-scale irrigation and potable water to ensure food security, infrastructure for lighting and communication, the Department of Mechanical Engineering introduced a PhD programme in Sustainable Energy Technologies (PhD SETs) to augment the already existing MSc Programme in Renewable Energy Technologies in order to meet the needs of the section of applicants who have need to conduct extensive research.

The partner institutions involved in the programme implementation are the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Aalesund Campus, all in Norway

At the end of the programme the student should be better equipped to:

• utilise innovative approaches for solving complex problems in the field of renewable technology;
• able to analyse, synthesise and evaluate interdisciplinary knowledge to solve complex problems in sustainable energy;
• able to utilise entrepreneurial skills to convert renewable energy ideas into realistic business models;

• able to appreciate multi-cultural differences with partners in a team /group;
• able to assess environmental, social and economic impacts;
• design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
• apply thermal science fundamentals to the design/analysis of renewable energy system components;
• apply basic principles of operation of prevalent renewable energy converters;
• design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
• function on multidisciplinary teams;
• design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
• understand professional and ethical responsibility;
• use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice;
• an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;
• an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants with good master’s or MPhil degree in Engineering or related field from a recognised University;
2. In addition, candidates must pass an interview.

Employment:

Employment opportunities exist in the following areas:

1. Generation Companies like the Volta River Authority, and Aboadze Thermal Power Company;
2. Government Ministries like the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Power;
3. Regulatory institutions in the Ghana and the West African sub-region like the West Africa Power Pool, the Energy Commission of Ghana, the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission;
4. Grid Management Companies like the Ghana Grid Company Limited;
5. The several renewable energy companies springing up in the country and the sub-region;
6. R & D experts and managers in energy production and power generation companies;
7. Consultants in the field(s) of energy and sustainability; and
8. Education and academia, research institutions.