We believe in a world where where anyone can build a better energy system for themselves or their community.
In order to achieve this, we aim to give people the best possible introduction to renewable energy by delivering an educational experience which allows people to build their first solar home system.
Energy Makers Academy is an innovative programme that combines a hardware kit with an educational app to provide students with a hands-on learning experience in SHS electronics and coding. The programme starts with an introduction to the fundamentals of energy and electricity, and progresses to cover electronic components and their use in SHS systems as well as writing embedded software.
The EMA hardware kit, which functions as a fully-functional SHS system once assembled, provides students with a practical context for applying their knowledge of electronics and coding. Through the EMA app, students are provided with instructions for assembling the EMA kit and learning content on energy, electricity, electronics, and programming.
As they progress through the programme, students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on experiments and build increasingly complex SHS systems, developing a deep understanding of the various components and their functions. The app also includes interactive illustrations to aid conceptual understanding.
The first step in the EMA kit is the building of a variable power supply, powered by solar, which allows students to carry out experiments in a similar fashion to those done on a traditional lab bench top power supply. This means that students can conduct experiments at home, without the need for a traditional laboratory or grid power. This allows for a more accessible and inclusive learning experience, especially for students in rural or remote areas where access to traditional lab facilities may be limited.
In addition to providing students with a thorough understanding of SHS electronics and the various components used in SHS, Energy Makers Academy also introduces students to the basics of programming. The EMA app includes a programming environment where students can write simple embedded software, which they can then upload to the microprocessor on the hardware kit via Bluetooth.
To make the programming process accessible to students with no prior experience, Energy Makers Academy utilises a block-based language. This allows students to easily understand the logical flow of the code and concentrate on developing their programming skills, rather than being bogged down by syntax and other technical details. Through the programming component of Energy Makers Academy, students have the opportunity to develop and test their own code, further deepening their understanding of SHS and the role that programming plays in their operation.
SAMSON SAHMLAND-BOWLING
Founding Director
GRANVILLE WOOD
Director, Zambia
CYNTHIA MULENGA
UX Product Owner
ZIKAMBIYANI HAANYIKA
Electronic Engineer
AUBRY LUNGU
Senior Software Developer
VALERIE KALINSO
Marketing Lead
PIETER DE LA COURT
Content Lead
MUDENDA SAKALA
Content Developer
In order to give our students the best possible learning experience we have assembled a team of passionate teachers, designers and engineers who hail from across the globe. We all share Energy Makers Academy’s commitment to openness, creativity and curiousness, with a laser focus on solving some of the world’s most pressing problems, including energy access and climate change.
Whether it’s improving skills in rural areas, getting people jobs in the renewable energy sector or helping people start businesses, our programmes deliver direct impact. We have experience working with communities across the world and are always looking for partners who want to support people and communities to use technology to solve the problems they face.
