Generating incomes with solar energy
First run of AEE-programme with Ethiopian solar enterprises successfully operated
Arba Minch, 15.12.2014, Together with the University of Arba Minch/Ethiopia and the University of Applied
Sciences of Neu-Ulm/Germany, the solar enterprise Phaesun which is located in Memmingen/Germany has
completed the first run-through of the AEE programme (Applied Education and Entrepreneurship
Programme) in December 2014. In the framework of this programme, a new study course has been
introduced at the Southern Ethiopian university where students develop solar systems and establish
business models in the rural regions together with small local enterprises. Among others, the solar
equipment for a hair salon, a mobile phone and lamp charging station, a mobile solar ice cream shop and
the equipment for a solar party photographer have been developed.
Students of the University of Arba Minch have collected ideas for these systems during a field trip to the
remote mountain village of Laka which has no power supply. Subsequently they sized and constructed the
systems directed by the German and Ethiopian university lecturers. At the same time, they identified local
solar entrepreneurs in cooperation with the local government of Laka and developed business plans.
Unique cooperation in an international team
Engidaw Abdel Haile, leader of the solar competence centre at the University of Arba Minch reports: "It is a
unique cooperation between international experts, Ethiopian university students and small local enterprises
who developed systems perfectly tailored for the users’ requirements. So the mobile solar hair salon e.g.
offers its services mainly on market days. The students therefore assembled the solar system and the
hairdresser’s equipment on a robust carriage, so the hairdresser is able to push his equipment on a carriage
to the market in Laka and the surrounding villages without problems.”
The solar enterprise Phaesun, supports this project as an industrial partner with solar components and
training courses on the sizing and marketing of solar systems. One reason to participate in this project is the
development of BOSS solutions together with the different stakeholders and test them in practice. BOSS in
this case, stands for Business Opportunities with Solar Systems and is the name for solar systems that are
used for income generation.
Tobias Zwirner, Managing Director of Phaesun knows that the existing solar kits are prototypes with room
for improvement, however, this is a perfect training ground for all participating parties, as he puts it. „The
local entrepreneurs remain in contact with the university for 2 years which corresponds with the amortisation
period for the investments made for the solar systems, but also with the term they are supported in case of
occurring problems.
So, e.g. the wheels of the carriages had to be changed already since they were not robust enough to carry
the weight of the solar batteries. Moreover, the operators in Laka were surprised about problems occurring
with the solar system during a long period of rain. So the students realise how important it is to use high
quality components and to raise awareness about the chances and limitations of solar energy.”
The project already started in December 2013 with an introduction workshop of the participating responsible
parties of all partner organisations in Ulm and a first trip to Ethiopia of the German university team to
prepare the project.
This was followed by an intensive 8-weeks training phase in Neu-Ulm for eight Ethiopian lecturers. The
focus was laid on the conveyance of the physical basics of solar energy, technical training courses of
system sizing, development of business plans and the marketing of services.
During the summer semester holidays, the Ethiopian students of engineering science, agricultural
economics, and business economics could then apply for the interdisciplinary additional study course.
55 students were selected for the first run of the programme. The lectures first took place as intensive block
courses in the semester holidays from July 2014 on and later at the weekends during the ongoing semester
from October on.
Future plans: Local assembling of solar carriages
In the second part of the course, the students engross what they have started already in the first weeks
together with the small local businesses „scaling up“ the business models. The challenge now is
„entrepreneurial activity on a larger scale“. One group of students e.g. is planning a workshop for the
manufacture of “solar carriages”. The necessary components can be bought from wholesalers in the capital.
Based on the knowledge acquired, the students configure various complete systems such as mobile phone
charging stations and offer these to entrepreneurs in regions without connection to the grid. Other students
are rather aiming at the solar power supply of private households and do the planning with local service
teams. In February 2015 the students get the chance to present their business plans to potential investors at
a conference at Arba Minch University.
The AEEP Applied Entrepreneurship and Education Programme is a training project supported by the DAAD
(German Academic Exchange Service), co-financed with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and
Research (BMBF). It was initiated by the University of Neu-Ulm, the University of Arba Minch, Sahay
Solarverein Afrika e.V., the company Phaesun and further industrial partners in 2013. The project will be
lasting for three years until the end of 2016. The study course will take place three times during the project
run time with the target to anchor the study course in the curriculum of the University Arba Minch and carry it
out independently in the future.
Info about the pictures (Photos by Phaesun)
Bild 1: Solar-run hair saloon
Bild 2: Entrepreneur with solar ice wagon
Bild 3: Ethiopian students after successful study course
About Phaesun GmbH
Phaesun GmbH based in Memmingen/Germany has been specialising in the sale, service and installation of
Off-Grid photovoltaic and wind power systems since the company was founded in 2001. As one of the
world’s leading system integrators of Off-Grid energy systems, Phaesun offers products of all reputable
manufacturers of this trade. International project management, purposeful training courses for customers
and technical support complete the range of services offered. Phaesun has a daughter company in
Vendargues, France and holds representations in Eritrea, Panama, Dubai and Ivory Coast.
Editor
Phaesun GmbH
Brühlweg 9
87700 Memmingen
Tel. 0049 (0)8331/ 990 42-27
Fax 0049 (0) 8331/ 990 42-12
www.phaesun.com