The AIT RRC.AP completed post-YEA mentoring series to steer the first stages towards developing and implementing the project idea of the Pico-Streamers team that leveraged their award of EUR 1000 during the YEA 2021, as sponsored by the Regional Programme Energy Security and Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS-RECAP). The mentoring series comprised of four sessions, each of 60 – 90 minutes convened once a week between 11 – 31 March 2022.
The first session identified the challenges hindering the progress on the implementation of their project idea, then prioritized and discussed possible solutions for the identified challenges leading to the design of an action plan. The exercise was undertaken using the design sprint process in the Miro Board. The next session dived into more technical aspects and guided the team on the turbine installation and measurement of the turbine efficiency. Teams were also informed to consider different socio-economic aspects including technical during their site visit for the information collection. Similarly, the third session brought in experts on renewable energy to share their experience with renewable energy from Myanmar including solar energy applications, hydropower applications, and micro-hydro technical assessments in the community. Lastly, the final session was convened in the form of a discussion between the team and the experts. The main discussion points were avenues for raising funds for the project (such as forming a small cooperative), governance of the project, building trust with the community, developing a good business model for their project, and approaching suitable funders/donors.
The sessions were led by experts from the Sustainable Energy Youth Network (SEYN) and the AIT-RRC.AP, Mr. Patrick Pawletko, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), Mr. Shoon So Oo, Regional Sustainable Energy Lead for the WWF Greater Mekong hosted by WWF Myanmar Office, and Ms. May Thida Muang, Programme Officer, Climate and Energy Programme, WWF, Myanmar, who is also an AIT Alumnus, and Yunus Thailand team respectively.