The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), through its School of Engineering and School of Energy, has held the second International Conference on Energy and Engineering (ICEE) in Sunyani. The three-day event brought together researchers, academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and students to deliberate on sustainable solutions for Africa’s energy and development challenges.
The conference was jointly organized by the two schools with sponsorship from the Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES), Volta River Authority (VRA), Energy Commission, Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Ltd. (BOST), Associated Consultants, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, Petroleum Commission Ghana, and the Earth Observation and Research Innovation Centre (EORIC).
Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice-Chancellor of UENR, chaired the opening session and delivered the opening remarks. He emphasized the university’s commitment to providing a platform for knowledge sharing and partnerships. He noted that the transition to renewable energy, the need for resilient urban systems, sustainable food production, and climate change challenges require intelligent and practical responses.
The event was held on the theme “Engineering the Future: Smart Innovations for Sustainable Energy, Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Climate Resilience.” It served as a platform for multidisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation aimed at building sustainable energy systems and resilient infrastructure for the continent.
Professor Dr Osvaldo Romero Romero, Director of the Study Program at the University of Applied Sciences, Berlin School of Technology, Germany, delivered a keynote address urging African governments to invest in energy technologies and support smallholder farmers to add value to their crops for export. He emphasized that value addition remains essential for transforming the livelihoods of millions of farmers and expanding Africa’s foreign exchange earnings.
He noted that the continent’s arable lands, when supported with energy technologies such as storage and cooling facilities, compressors, and processors, could modernize agriculture and boost productivity. He added that global advancements in energy technologies align closely with smart agricultural practices, and investing in these areas would accelerate development and improve livelihoods.
Prof Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, Vice-Chancellor of Sunyani Technical University, highlighted innovative approaches such as Smart Virtual Power Plant aggregation, blockchain-based peer-to-peer energy trading, and adaptive financing through Energy as a Service as pathways to achieving Ghana’s renewable energy target of 10 percent by 2030. He stressed the importance of integrating renewable energy systems into society in ways that reflect ecological responsibility and local realities.
The conference reinforced UENR’s position as a leading institution in energy and natural resource education and research in Ghana, fostering strategic collaborations that address emerging challenges in energy, engineering, agriculture, and sustainability.
