Co-developing Appropriate Energy Technology in Ghana

Catalog description

In Sub-Saharan Africa approximately 600 million people lack access to energy; at the same time the Continent has tremendous solar potential. This class will explore some of the structural barriers to solar energy access while co-developing solutions with Ghanaian engineers and engineering students. We will explore how energy access is not just a question of technology but is also a question of history, economics, politics, regional integration, and impacts of climate change. Students will build skills and knowledge base needed to design for social and environmental justice. They will critically think about the practice of engineering and the purpose of engineering in the anthropocene. Students will also gain an understanding of the emerging field of engineering for social justice. Since 2021, Ghanaian engineers have been building solar systems locally from components to expand solar access in the Northern Region of Ghana with an early stage startup, EnergieRich. These systems include battery packs built from e-waste, locally built laminating machines to decentralize production, solutions to challenges of dust accumulation including new designs for solar panels, dashboard and data collection system to visualize system performance along with K-12 innovation programs to teach STEM classes to local youth. Several Stanford engineering students have traveled to Ghana to support this work through Cardinal Quarter. During Spring Quarter: Students will develop new solar system ideas alongside a team of Ghanaian engineers and entrepreneurs in partnership with EnergieRich. Travel to Ghana is optional and will not be sponsored by Stanford. Students will not receive course credit. The system will include a marketing strategy, data collection strategy, and innovative materials. During August: Travel to Ghana for 4 weeks to implement the new system and co-teach our K-12 education…