PROFILE OF KNUST SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SERVICE CENTRE (KNUST-SESC), GHANA

The KNUST Sustainable Energy Service Centre (KNUST-SESC) is a unit of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), with the main objective of providing energy auditing services in buildings as well as professional training and certification of energy auditors and energy management professionals in Ghana and beyond. The KNUST Sustainable Energy Service Centre was officially established by the Energy Commission at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, to undertake activities related to:

1. Training of energy auditors, energy management professionals and practitioners to support the energy transition agenda in Ghana.
2. Conducting energy audits in residential, commercial and industrial facilities with the purpose of identifying energy efficiency and energy conservation improvement opportunities for investment to reduce energy consumption and corresponding costs.
3. Undertaking research in the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy to support national and sub-regional energy transformation agenda with least carbon footprint.
4. Collaborating with international development partners to undertake field studies and projects to ensure the implementation of “best in class” technologies and behavior to increase energy efficiency & energy conservations practices in buildings.
5. Supporting local companies and artisans in the manufacture of appropriate technologies to support green energy transition in Ghana, including “best-in-class” lighting and cooling/HVAC systems, renewable/solar energy cooking, solar water pumping/irrigation, etc.

Since its inception, the KNUST Sustainable Energy Service Centre (KNUST- SESC) has been a hive of activities, achieving significant milestones in the field of sustainable energy. These include:

1. Conducted several energy audits for residential, commercial and industrial (C&I) buildings. Examples include Vester Oil Company in Kumasi, Holiday Inn Hotel in Accra, and some selected facilities at KNUST, and later installing renewable energy to reduce building energy costs and carbon footprint.
2. Conducted building energy assessments for the purpose of issuing energy performance certificates (EPC) for over 120 commercial and public buildings in Ghana, under the GIZ-Energy Commission initiative.
3. Training, examination and certification of close to 100 energy auditors and energy management professionals.

Technical staff and certified energy auditors & professionals of the KNUST-SESC include:

1. Prof. Richard Opoku

2. Dr. Bismark Baah

3. Dr. Charles K.K Sekyere

4. Dr. Kofi Owura Amoabeng

5. Prof. Emmanuel Frimpong

6. Ing. John Kusi

Technicians and support staff of the KNUST-SESC include:

1. Miss Efua St-Omer
2. Richard Miezah
3. Othniel Lartey

The technical staff of the KNUST-SESC has worked closely with national agencies and international partners including Ministry of Energy & Green Transition-Ghana; Energy Commission-Ghana; Association of Ghana Industries (AGI); Ghana Green Building Council; German Agency for International Development (GIZ); United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS); etc.