Notre Dame Seminary Senior High School emerged victorious in the regional contest of the Energy Commission Senior High Schools (SHSs) Renewable Energy Challenge for the Upper East Region.
The competition, which focused on innovative renewable energy solutions, saw the school represented by three students who presented an innovative aquaponics project.
The students’ project integrated a renewable energy component using a solar system designed to address pressing environmental issues such as land degradation and water pollution.
The innovative aquaponics system leverages solar power to create a sustainable method of agriculture that combines fish farming (aquaculture) with plant cultivation (hydroponics).
One of the students, Marcellinus Abisiba says the system is designed to pump water from a fishpond and because fishes produce ammonia which might be toxic to humans, it is designed to filter the water before it flows to the plants.
He added that the system not only conserves water but also ensures efficient land use, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of traditional farming practices.
“This system does not release carbon emission to the environment, it is eco-friendly, especially at the time the world is moving towards electric cars to avoid carbon emission,” Mr Abesiba stated.
The school’s team including, Nchorbuno Kevin Amisom, and Dramani Benedict Iddi impressed the judges with their comprehensive understanding of renewable energy principles and their practical application in solving environmental challenges.
For their prize, they were given a plaque and certificate each as champions of the 5th edition of the Energy Commission Senior High Schools Renewable Energy Challenge for the Upper East Region. Bolgatanga Senior High School placed second position, Our Lady of Lourdes Girls Senior High School, 3rd position, Bolgatanga Girls SHS, 4th, and Navrongo Technical Institute placed 5th position. All the three participating students from each of the schools and their coaches were given certificates.
This year’s theme of the challenge is “Application of Renewal Energy Technologies in Solving Land Degradation and Water Pollution.”
Julius Nkansah-Nyarko, Senior Manager for Renewable Energy Regulations and Project Coordinator at the Energy Commission said the choice of the theme is for the students to come out with solutions that could aid end the menace of land degradation and pollution of water bodies.
“We are not interested in getting winners or champions, but the overall objective is to improve upon the projects that our students bring forth. We are working with CSIR to improve upon previous years’ projects. One of them is a solar dehydrator and we will commercialise it this year. If this is done, we expect that monies will be accrued from the sale of the projects to farmers and schools that developed the projects,” he stated.
All 16 regional winners will converge in Kumasi in August for a zonal stage contest and 6 best schools will be selected for the final contest in October this year.
A speech read on behalf of the Upper East Regional Director of Education, Bright A. Lawoe encouraged the youth to be at the forefront of changing the narrative of reclaiming the depleted lands and polluted water bodies.
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