Community Energy Scotland - Malawi

Community Energy Scotland has been selected as a partner for a groundbreaking renewable energy programme in Malawi.  The Renewable Energy Acceleration Programme, led by Strathclyde University, will help disadvantaged communities in rural areas of Malawi to develop their own energy systems.

Community Energy Scotland and the University of Strathclyde will work in partnership with Malawian organisations including University of Malawi and several existing community energy groups to provide access to more reliable electricity for rural towns and villages. By providing research technology, collaboration, educational and training support and entrepreneurship, we will work with the people of Malawi to develop their renewable energy capabilities and climate change policies, putting Malawi on the path to “green growth”. In addition, the programme will provide support at an institutional level in Malawi to support the formation of policies, including Government policies, for renewable and community energy projects.

Graham Ault, a Community Energy Scotland Director and Professor of Electrical Power Systems at Strathclyde University, said:

This new Renewable Energy Acceleration Programme will create several new Scotland-Malawi partnerships to develop the capability of Malawian organisations and communities to harness their renewable energy resources and reap the economic and social benefits of that.  At the University of Strathclyde, we are excited by this new opportunity and look forward to working with all the project partners to do the necessary ground work, develop pilot projects and deliver real changes to the energy prospects of Malawi.

This innovative programme will build on a previous successful Community Rural Electrification and Development project between Scotland and Malawi led by Strathclyde University. That project provided seven solar energy systems in schools and health posts, as well as in eight teachers’ houses. In one school, this allowed 180 students to continue their studies further into the evening, using solar powered lighting. Community groups and village health workers also benefited from the new solar lighting systems. The project also enabled rural communities to maintain valuable lifelines. Mobile phone charging would have previously involved lengthy trips to a main market or shopping area in a town but new mobile phone charging schemes have proved highly successful with two schools in remote Chikwawa. Work will be carried out by Strathclyde University to see how improved and sustainable community energy provision can support the poorest people in Malawi. The Malawi Renewable Energy Acceleration Programme will deliver a detailed understanding of the support mechanisms required to empower disadvantaged Malawian communities to participate in addressing their own energy needs.

Graham Ault continues:

In Scotland we experience the benefits of secure local energy supplies of different forms and our daily activities in areas such as industry, commerce, education, health care and our homes are enriched in many ways by these supplies of energy. The situation in Malawi is, of course, very different and that nation’s economic development is held back by inadequate access to sustainable sources of energy.

Community Energy Scotland is excited about working with partners both in Scotland and Malawi to share stories and experiences of implementing community energy.