By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

ENERGY, Environment and Research Group (EERG) at the University of Zambia (UNZA) plans to re-establish solar applied energy laboratory at a cost of US$750,000 to empower students with practical knowledge in solar energy.
EERG head, Prem Jain said the organisation would spend $750,000 to re-establish the solar energy lab for the university to start producing graduates who can handle solar energy in the industry.
The EERG, which is an inter-disciplinary academic ground under the department of physics at UNZA, conducts researches on energy, environment and climate issues.
“As a department we think solar technology is now fairly mature and cost effective hence the need to prepare students well to make a positive contribution to the industry,” Professor Jain said in his presentation to the Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ) forum.
He said solar technologies were suitable for Zambia including solar grid feed-in, off-grid, mini grid, solar micro systems (solar lanterns), and solar heating which can help people, especially in rural parts of Zambia.
Increased use of solar energy can make a major contribution to providing electricity to rural areas of Zambia in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner.
Prof Jain said the department of physics also partnered with the EIZ to create capacity for the engineering students to be able to handle environmentally-friendly energy sources.
He said it was time the country embraced solar energy looking at the huge demand of electricity.
Prof Jain said that the coming of renewable energy would increase access to electricity especially in rural parts Zambia.