Chronology

The idea to create a network for solar energy in Africa emerged from an encounter between Pr Dr Daniel A. M. Egbe (Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria), Pr Dr Samir Romdhane (University of Bizerte, Tunisia) and Pr Dr Teketel Yohannes (University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) during the International Conference on Conducting Material- ICOCOM 2010, which was held from the 3rd to the 7th of November 2010 in Sousse, Tunisia.

The Sousse meeting on 04.11.2010

The first constituting meeting of the network was held on the 4th of November 2010 in Sousse, Tunisia, between 10 pm and midnight, witnessing the attendance of 9 persons, most of them (7) from North Africa. As a by-product of ICOCOM 2010, the network was named "African Network on Conducting Materials for Solar Energy -ANCMSE" by the participants of the first meeting, who defined the main goal of the network, which is to foster research activities in the field of solar energy among African scientists working within and out of Africa. It was decided that the network should not be a political but a success oriented entity.

The desire to get ICTP (The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics), a United Nations institution based in Trieste Italy, involved in the activities of the network was expressed by most of the attendees, due to ICTP's long time experience working with African scientists. Prof. Teketel Yohannes was assigned to contact ICTP and seek its support to the objectives of the network. The participants were requested to act as ambassadors by informing other concerned scientists all over Africa and abroad about the network. As one of the initiators, Pr Dr. Daniel A. M. Egbe was appointed to coordinate the network´s activities in the early stage.

The Linz meeting on 04.02.2011

Exactly three month later, on the 4th of February 2011, a second meeting in the form of a mini-symposium was held at the Linz Institute of Organic Solar Cells (LIOS, lios.at) of the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria (jku.at). This second gathering was possible thanks to Professor Serdar Sariciftci, director of LIOS, who secured funding to cover the travel and accommodation expenses of most of the African attendees. Lesley Tobin of ICPC-Nanonet (icpc-nanonet.org) was critical to the success of the mini-symposium. With the information she provided, we were able to invite participants coming from different African regions, such that the decisions taken during the symposium were binding. She was moreover very helpful in a practical sense by writing down the minutes, by purchasing the web domain ansole.org and by designing the logo of the network. Following countries were directly or indirectly represented at the symposium: Algeria, Austria, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Scotland, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey and USA. The attendance of ICTP which was represented by Dr. Ralph Gebauer and Dr. Joseph Niemela, was greatly welcome by all. ICTP promised to support the network in various ways.

Changing the focus and name

The Appellation “African Network on Conducting Materials for Solar Energy -ANMCSE” was found to be too restrictive (exclusive) during the second meeting and was therefore changed. A more inclusive appellation "African Network for Solar Energy-ANSOLE" was chosen instead. The goals and objectives as defined by the Sousse meeting were reiterated and extended. It was agreed that ANSOLE should not be limited on research activities only, but it should also include economic aspects in its activities.

Binding declaration

In addition, the attendees of the Linz meeting made an undersigned Binding declaration of the following content:

• We the undersigned agree to formally establish and affiliate ourselves with the “African Network for Solar Energy” as initially founded in Sousse, Tunisia on November 4th 2010.We adopt the acronym “ANSOLE”.


• We the undersigned unanimously agree that Prof. Dr. Daniel Ayuk Mbi Egbe is coordinator of ANSOLE for the next two years (2011-2013).


• We the undersigned agree that the African participants of this symposium constitute the advisory board for the next two years (2011-2013).

4.11.2011: ANSOLE is an ICTP Network

Exactly 1 year after the Sousse meeting, ANSOLE obtained the status of an ICTP network bringing a series of advantages to the network scientists. For instance, ICTP will offer fellowships to the two main ANSOLE students exchange programs within the next three years:

• Africa-North Exchange-Program (ANEX-Program).


• Intra-African Exchange-Program (INEX-Program).

The ANEX program is a knowledge acquisition (knowledge transfer) program geared at training African students and researchers in experienced and well-equipped research laboratories in Europe, North America and Asia.

The INEX program whose primary aim is to strengthen intra-African research activcities, offers the possibility to conduct joint Masters or joint Ph.D programs among African institutions. Within the INEX program exists a special program called "OVERcome the HEAt of the Desert" program or OVERHEAD-Program. This special program, which will be strongly favored, is geared at bridging research activities between Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa.

17-19.02.2012: ANSOLE DAYS 2012

The first ANSOLE DAYS (ANSOLE DAYS 2012) on the theme "Solar Energy for Sustainable Development" took place at the University of Yaounde I in Yaounde Cameroon. More than 200 participants from 18 countries attended the meeting. The conference consisted of scientific presentations (keynote lectures of 45 mins, lectures of 20 or 15 mins and posters) and expositions of solar goods. The conference was highlighted by the performance of a theatre piece of title "No bills with the Sun" which portrayed the energy problems encountered in Cameroon, representing the situation in most sub-Saharan countries, and proposed solar energy as a solution The participants received attestation of participation, and three poster prizes were awarded. The best prize, a solar bag made from organic solar cells, went to Mr Patrice Dongo, a PhD student of the University of Dschang, Cameroon. The following 8 articles emanating from presentations during the conference underwent a positive peer-review process and are now published in AJSTID (African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development- www.ajstid.com), Volume 4, Number 4, 2012:

1. A Review of Solar Technologies for Buldings, N.Djonyang, R.Tchinga & C. Kapseu



2. Design Simulation and Realization of an Intelligent Charge Controller (ICC) for Accumulators in Renewable Power Stations, P. D. Dongo, R. Tchitnga, C. T. Tchapga, A. R. Tchamda, J. K. Tangka & A. Fomethe



3. Methodology of North-South Technology Transfer: Application to the Case of a Foodstuff Drier, Y. I. Halawlaw & M. Y. Khaya



4. Reducing the Energy Bills of Higher Educational Institutions with Solar Energy : the Case of the University of Ngaoundere in Cameroon, C.Kapseu, N. Djongyand, R. T. Dabou, M. T. Nsiéwé, I. Njukouyou & F. D. Eyono



5. Design of an Electronic Power and Charge Controller for Hybrid Energy Systems (EPOCHES), A. R. Tchamda, R. Tchitnga, C. T. Tchapga & M. Kom



6. The Status of Solar Photovoltais and Solar Thermal Applications in Malawi, C. M. Tenthani, E. Phiri &T. Senganimalunje



7. Situation of the Research on Renewable Energies in Central Africa Region: The Case of Solar Energy, C. Kapseu, N. Djongyang & M. Petsoko



8. ANSOLE DAYS: Demystifying Solar Energy Research through Artistic Creativity, E. M. Samba

17.02.2012: First ANSOLE General Assembly, Yaounde, Cameroon

The first ANSOLE General Assembly (GA) was held in conference amphitheater of ANSOLE DAYS 2012 at the University of Yaounde I, Yaounde Cameroon on the 17th of February 2012 between 6 pm and 8 pm. It was attended by 37 persons. The meeting was chaired by the ANSOLE international coordinator, Daniel A.M. Egbe, assisted by the co-founder of ANSOLE and regional representative in North Africa, Prof. Samir Romdhane, and by the regional representative of ANSOLE in Central Africa, Prof. César Kapseu. Practical assistance was provided by the then vice-rector for international relations of the University of Tebessa Algeria Dr. Louiza Boudiba (presently member of the Algerian Parliament). The minutes were written by Prof. Elizabeth von Hauff from the University of Freiburg in Germany (presently Professor at the University of Amsterdam, Holland). More...

19.02.2012: Second ANSOLE General Assembly, Yaounde, Cameroon

The second ANSOLE General Assembly, held at campus refectorate of the University of Yaounde I between 4 pm and 6 pm, was attended by 35 persons, and was chaired by the ANSOLE coordinator Daniel. A. M. Egbe, assisted by ANSOLE co-founder, Prof. Samir Romdhane. The minutes were written by Ms Pascaline Kinji of the Cocoa Board in Cameroon. More...

11.09.2011: Launching of ANSOLE Germany e.V.

23.11.2013: ANSOLE Germany e.V. becomes ANSOLE e.V.