Wilo East Africa has hosted a regional technical knowledge exchange aimed at strengthening engineering capacity for solar water pumping systems across Africa. The engagement brought together JASBEL Group technical teams from Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Kenya to address common design, performance, and efficiency challenges facing water and energy projects in the region.
The exchange, organized under the Wilo Middle and Southern Africa Region, focused on applied engineering skills rather than theoretical instruction. Sessions were led by Wilo East Africa’s technical leadership team, including Managing Director Belete A. Matebe, Sales Engineer Wamwana John, and Production Manager David Mugo.
Practical Focus on System Design and Performance
The technical program covered critical aspects of solar pumping system development, including pump selection, system hydraulics, efficiency optimization, and overall pumping system design. These areas are central to achieving reliable operation, particularly in off-grid and rural installations where system failure can disrupt essential water supply.
Participants examined how variations in site conditions such as head requirements, flow demand, and solar availability influence system sizing and component selection. Engineers also reviewed common design errors encountered in field installations and discussed mitigation strategies based on regional experience.
Live Performance Testing Demonstration
A key component of the exchange was a live demonstration of pump performance testing at Wilo’s test bench facility. Engineers observed how pumping systems are tested under controlled conditions to verify efficiency, operating curves, and compliance with performance standards.
For trade and technical audiences, the demonstration highlighted the importance of validating design assumptions through testing before deployment. Performance testing was presented as a critical step in reducing lifecycle costs, improving system durability, and ensuring that solar pumping solutions meet expected output levels.
Addressing Shared Regional Challenges
Solar water pumping is increasingly deployed across Africa to support agriculture, community water supply, and institutional facilities. However, inconsistent design practices and limited technical capacity remain barriers to achieving long-term system reliability.
By bringing together teams from multiple countries, the exchange enabled engineers to share lessons learned from different markets and project types. Discussions focused on challenges such as fluctuating demand, system oversizing or undersizing, and maintenance considerations in remote locations.
The collaborative format allowed participants to compare engineering approaches and align on best practices suited to regional conditions.
Building Technical Capacity Through Collaboration
Wilo East Africa emphasized that regional capacity building requires sustained collaboration between manufacturers, integrators, and technical partners. Rather than isolated training sessions, the company views cross-border knowledge exchange as a way to develop consistent engineering standards and strengthen project outcomes.
The participation of JASBEL Group teams reflected the importance of technical partnerships in delivering scalable and sustainable water infrastructure solutions. Engineers were encouraged to apply insights from the exchange to ongoing and future projects within their respective markets.
Industry Implications
For water, energy, and engineering professionals, the exchange underscores the growing emphasis on technical rigor in solar pumping deployments. As systems become more widely adopted, performance verification, efficiency optimization, and proper system design are increasingly seen as essential rather than optional.
Wilo East Africa noted that its testing facilities and technical support services are intended to help partners improve system reliability and reduce operational risks across diverse applications.
Outlook
With water access and energy efficiency remaining key development priorities across Africa, initiatives that combine hands-on technical training with regional collaboration are likely to expand. Wilo East Africa indicated that similar technical engagements may be planned as part of its ongoing efforts within the Middle and Southern Africa Region.
