Bolivie Wakam, a Cameroonian engineer in renewable energy, has embarked on a project to light up the country through renewable clean energy.
The 29-year-old and his non-governmental organisation, dubbed Africa Tech Solar, has been making up for the country’s energy deficit by training young people on how to install solar panels.
Bolivie Wakam, who was studying renewable energy in Italy, returned to his home country to train young people on how to install and maintain solar panels in Batoufam, western Cameroon.
In a country where mainstream power and electricity supply is either too expensive or out of reach, Wakam thinks teaching students how they can purify water using cheap solar stills will promote the country’s energy sector.
While explaining how the process works, Wakam says: “The energy is sourced locally. We tap into solar energy to power the panels. So what we have here is an independent system that uses a battery charged by the sun, which then powers the panels and the advantage is that the solar energy does not pollute the environment; it’s clean energy and it’s renewable.”
So far Africa Tech Solar has installed solar powered street lights, multimedia installations and a water purification plant in Batoufam and many people are now inspired by the idea of clean, renewable energy.
According to the World Bank, nearly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to energy, and electrification is barely keeping pace with population growth. Analysts say Africa’s energy sector needs investment of around 55 billion US dollars per year until 2030.
Many believe that Wakam’s project will help Cameroon make up for its energy deficit and provide everyone with access to electricity.
JDC TV, Video news 
