Environmental Consciousness

Since it’s inception, Solar Net International has supported the use of Renewable Energies.  
Together with the Department for Green Space and Environmental Protection of the city of Münster, Solar Net supported the installation of photovoltaic systems at our partner facilities in Namibia, Poland and most recently in Tansania
In addition to this, in the summer of 2005, we were able to complete the construction of solar hot water systems in the Primary School of Baumgartsbrunn, Namibia.
This project was extended in the following years and similar systems are now in operation at the girls’ hostels of the Institute for Home Science in Baumgartsbrunn.
During Solar Net’s youth-workshops and scholar exchanges the topics of "Global Warming" and "Renewable Energies" always play an important role.
Through practical experiments and informative workshops the participants learn about acting responsibly and addressing one of the biggest challenges of our time.

Get more information and discuss with other  people worldwide in our Environmental issues forum!


10.000 miles with you - Solar Net Energy Campaign
The Solar Net energy campaign, coming up in summer 2009 aims to create awareness for energy consumption, possibilities of energy savings and ecological energy production through renewable energies.

Find more information on the project website


Jatropha project

One can attain oil from the nuts of the Jatropha plant, growing in Northern Ghana (just like rapeseed-oil from rapeseeds), which, among other things, can be used as an alternative fuel for Diesel-powered engines.
The company “Energiebau Köln” has initiated the Jatropha project with the Ghanese Environmental Organisation RENERG. Farmers in Northern Ghana are to be encouraged to grow Jatropha and attain oil from the nuts in order to be able to use it as fuel directly.

The project is coordinated by James Darko (founder of RENERG) from Kumasi. As a part of their biology lessons, the class 10b of the Schillergymnasium dealt with alternative fuels, the subject of rapeseed-oil was intensely discussed. During a study trip to Ghana in July 2005, a group of eight pupils and teachers were able to gather a lot of valuable experiences, e.g. visting several project partners of RENERG, who have already worked on renewable energies.
For example, a hospital ward outside of Kumasi was provided with solar power. Moreover, during a visit in the community of Bursunu in Northern Ghana the progress of the Jatropha could be scrutinized thoroughly.

Prospects

At the moment the association RENERG is mainly occupied with building up a study centre outside of school on the subject of renewable energies. To ensure the continued existence of this promising the association Solar Net International r.a. undertook to pay for James Darko’s annual salary for the years 2006 and 2007. This is being achieved with the support of the city of Münster.

James Darko provides regular interim reports on the progress of the project and the association RENERG. 

See our project documentary "renewable energies in Ghana" (german):

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