Project - EnergyNET
Energy Technology Network (EnergyNET)
A group of African universities collaborate with NTNU under the NORHED II Norad programme, on developing small scale renewable energy solutions for off-grid applications.
About EnergyNET
The EnergyNET project is based on many years of collaboration among African universities and NTNU, on the development of master's programmes and research capacities within Renewable Energy Technology.
The emphasis has been on small scale off-grid energy systems for heating and cooling. One particular aim is to develop hybrid systems with heat storage solutions for cooking, in order to reduce the current use of firewood.
EnergyNET is a project under the NORHED II Norad programme – the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development. EnergyNET aims at bringing technical solutions from the laboratories into field testing.
The project will include 10 PhD candidates at 7 universities in Africa, within the fields of Solar Thermal, Solar PV, Refrigeration and Hybrid Systems.
Project timeline
2021-2026
Project report 2025
Some highlights are:
- Graduation of 4 PhDs: Jimmy Chaciga (MAK), Tusiime Swaleh (MAK, from EnPe period) Ibrahim Mwasubila (UDSM), Emanual Nyirenda (UDSM/MUBAS) and Casiana Lwiwa (NTNU).
- 4 PhDs (AAU and UEM) spent 1-3 months at NTNU, taking part in laboratory work and working on their theses. The candidate for UDSM also did the groundwork for acquisition of research equipment to UDSM.
Some highlights on the technical side are:
- Three pilot concepts have been displayed and received strong attention at university innovation events at MAK and UDSM and AAU.
- The cooker pilot at MAK has been copied and taken for field testing at a school for refugees in northern Uganda.
- The annual ENET meeting was hosted by MUBAS in Malawi and included participation of private and governmental stakeholders.
- ENET work from UDSM and AAU was presented at World Renewable Energy Conference in UK, WREC 2025
People at EnergyNET
Coordinators
Ole Jørgen Nydal, NTNU
Karidewa Nyeinga, MAK
Boaventura Cuamba, UEM
Joseph Kihedu, UDSM
Mulu Bayray, MU
Ishmael B.M. Kosamu, UNIMA
Tito Achire, JUBAUni