Trends
Renewable energy skills for Africa's future
Africa has some of the world's best renewable energy resources: strong sunshine, geothermal heat in the Rift Valley, large rivers and windy coasts. Kenya, for example, generates much of its electricity from renewable sources, including geothermal.
Growing careers
- solar installer and technician;
- electrical and power engineer;
- geothermal technician;
- energy auditor;
- mini-grid operator.
Science behind the jobs
- Electricity: circuits, current, voltage and power.
- Light and energy: how solar cells convert light into electricity, linked to the photoelectric effect.
- Magnetism: generators and transformers.
- Heat: geothermal and thermal systems.
Learning in the virtual labs
- Electrodynamics for circuits and power.
- Laws of the photoelectric effect for light and energy.
- Electromagnetic field (Faraday) and Hysteresis Loop for generators and transformers.
- Kinetic theory of gases for heat.
Systems thinking
Energy systems connect generation, transmission and use. Students who understand how a failure in one part affects others are better prepared for this industry.
Starting early
Students who explore energy in school are more likely to choose relevant subjects and careers.