Mayor Patricia de Lille and Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, Freestate of Thuringia, Germany inaugurated today themaxx-solar academy in cooperation with SARETEC

The maxx-solar academy was established in 2011 by the German Solar Energy Society DGS and the maxx I solar energy PTY Ltd. Since than more than 1500 engineers, architects, craftsmen andinterested citizens have been taking part in the maxx-academy courses in Africa. The South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) is the first national renewable energy technology centre in South Africa and has been established at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology(CPUT). maxx I solar academy and SARETEC unites the objective to pave the way for a sustainable use of solar power by education. After a first meeting end of 2015, both partners ratified their cooperation with an MOU signed in April 2016. Mayor Patricia de Lille and Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, Freestate of Thuringia, Germany officially inaugurated the maxx I solar academy CapeTown in cooperation with SARETEC on 10 November 2016.

The maxx I solar academy, Africa´s Premier Training Institute on Solar Power acts as non-profit training center for solar energy. It was established in 2011 by the German Solar Energy Society DGS and the maxx solar energy PTY Ltd. South Africa. Since then more than 1500 engineers, architects, craftsmen and interested citizens have been taking part in the maxx-academy and DGS courses in Africa. Our fast grow is only possible due to great local partners. All maxx-solar academy courses are centrally managed and quality assured by the maxx-solar academy team. However the single academies are operated by local partners. Presently we have 5 academies in South Africa in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Upington.

The maxx-solar academy in Cape Town was established 2012. Since then maxx was looking for a partner with similar objectives as maxx. With SARETEC we found a new home for our academy in Cape Town. The South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) is the first national renewable energy technology centre in South Africa and has been established at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) - Bellville campus, Cape Town, South Africa. SARETEC offers specialized industry-related and accredited training for the entire renewable energy (RE) industry along with tailored short courses and workshops. This new technology centre is the perfect location to offer the maxx-solar academy trainings. SARETEC’s workshops are equipped with mock roofs and different demo photovoltaic systems which allow the maxx I solar academy to offer the hands-on training which is needed to train the future installers in state of the art installation, operation and maintenance of embedded generation PV systems.

CPUT, SARETEC and maxx signed the MOU to operate the maxx-solar academy Cape Town in cooperation with SARETEC in 2016. First training courses were already offered in 2016, but Mayor Patricia de Lille and Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, Freestate of Thuringia, Germany gave us the honour to officially inaugurate the maxx-solar academy in cooperation with SARETEC on the 10th of November. Patricia de Lille said the “training institutes like the maxx I solar academy are an important to help the City of Cape Town's green development”. The origin of the maxx I solar academy is in in the Freestate of Thuriniga in Germany. The first time that Minister Tiefensee saw the engagement of maxx I solar in South Africa was during his first mission to South Africa in 2015. He saw that even a small company as maxx I solar can play an important role in building up one market segment, such as maxx I solar plays with his training academy in the photovoltaic sector. Antje Klauss-Vorreiter, director of the maxx I solar academy, presented the development of the academy during the last 5 years. She said that “in 2011 we came as a Germans training provider to South Africa, today we are a South African training academy with mainly South African Trainers.” The training programme of the maxx I solar academy is dynamic. Every year the academy reworks the training programme to follow the fast market development. The trainings courses are accredited internationally by the German Solar Energy Society DGS and locally by SAIEE. Participants will be awarded with CPD points.

The first training in 2017 we offer in March. The so called SuperSolarSchool is a one week intensive course where the participants learn how to start or professionalise their solar power business in only one week. Trainers with practical experience train the design of embedded generation system and the proper installation. All our alumni become part of the maxx I solar alumni network. Maxx offers its alumni’s frequent network meetings, access to latest market development including new technologies and even consultants with their first projects.

Maxx I solar academy – More than only Training!

maxx I solar energy PTY Ltd.

The maxx | solar energy group with headquarters in Thuringia, Germany provides its customers with all services related to photovoltaics. Through maxx | solar energy PTY Ltd., the maxx group extended its presence to South Africa in 2011. The service range of maxx | solar energy PTY Ltd. includes training, wholesale and consulting. As the South African Premium Partner of the German PV system integrator IBC SOLAR, we stand for the highest quality standards in wholesale of photovoltaic technology. Our maxx-solar academy is Africa´s Premier Training Institute on Solar Power. It was established in 2011 by the German Solar Energy Society DGS and the maxx group. Since 2011, hundreds of engineers, architects and craftsmen have been taking part in our trainings and many of them now work as certified maxx I team installers.