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Meet the first RED Certificate Graduate: Sidy Toure

As a young student in Africa, I did my homework late into the night under candle light and oil lamps. Light and electricity have always been a miraculous gift we couldn’t afford to waste. Because of this, I developed an early curiosity and deep enthusiasm for electrical technology and engineering, “ẻlectrotechnique” in my “official” native language of French. I always wanted to know how electricity worked and what you could do with it. So right after high school, I pursued a technical degree in Electrical Engineering, the first of many degrees and certificates I would later acquire.

In my lifetime, I have been an English as Second Language (ESL) teacher in Madrid, an electrician living on a floating barge in the middle of the Atlantic, and a multi-lingual International Sales Engineer armed with Wolof, my native language, French, Spanish and English. Since moving to the United States and raising a family in North Carolina, I had taken advantage of the many opportunities available in this country to earn further degrees in Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Information Systems, and Business Administration. These courses and the network it exposed me to eventually led me to take a continuing education course on renewable energy with the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State, and later, the Graduate Certificate in Renewable Energy Assessment and Development, a new program at the College of Natural Resources.

From the renewable energy classes I’ve taken at NC State, I learned how to harvest electricity and develop projects from different clean and renewable energy systems. I now have a clear idea of how to conduct renewable resource assessment, and install and maintain Photovoltaic (PV) systems. I am also now able to navigate the policies, regulations and incentives that govern these systems.

Courses in the graduate program in Renewable Energy Assessment and Development have helped me to better understand and value the importance of energy efficiency and to understand its role as the first step towards a renewable energy mindset. What I have already learned from this certificate program has armed me to be more progressively minded about tackling climate change by reducing our carbon footprint, adopting clean renewable energy systems, and departing from the use of conventional fossil fuels. It also has helped me to grasp renewable industry best practices, preparing me to contribute to today’s growing African grassroots movements for development of renewable energy.

In recent years these movements have started taking advantage of the plentiful and long sun hours of Africa, mostly in the sub-Sahara where I am from. They understand that solar panels are built to be more efficient, cost less than fossil fuel, and have become a realistic way to empower businesses and homes throughout Africa.

With my enthusiasm in renewable energy development, my extensive work experience, and solid academic achievements, I am excited to be a great asset in the renewable energy industry, and this Graduate Certificate in Renewable Energy Assessment and Development will be a driving force for me to enroll in further graduate studies.