CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Background To The Study

In the early stage of science and technology education in Nigeria, students were graduating
from their respective institutions without any technical knowledge or working experience.
There was a growing concern among industrialists that graduates of institutions of higher
learning lacked adequate practical background studies necessary for employment industries.
Thus, the employers were of the opinion that the theoretical education going on in higher
institutions was not responsive to the needs of the employers of labour. It was in this view of
widening their horizons so as to enable them have technical knowledge or working
experience before graduating from their various institutions.

1.1 History Of Siwes

The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was established by the Industrial
Training Fund (ITF) in 1973 to enable students of tertiary institutions have technical
knowledge of industrial work based on their course of study before the completion of their
program in their respective institutions. The ITF solely funded the scheme during its
formative years, but as the financial involvement became unbearable to the fund, it withdrew
from the Scheme in 1978. The Federal Government handed over the scheme in 1979 to both
the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical
Education (NBTE). Later the Federal Government in November 1984 reversed the
management and implementation of the SIWES to ITF and it was effectively taken over by
the Industrial Training Fund in July 1985, with the funding being solely borne by the Federal
Government.

1.2.1 Vision Statement

To be the prime Skills Training Development Organizations in Nigeria and one of the best in
the world.

1.2.2 Mission Statement

To act and regulate and offer direct training intervention in industrial and commercial skills
training and development, using a corps of highly competent professional staff, modern
techniques and technology.

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1.3 Aims of SIWES
The effort is aimed at helping training student in the Nigerian tertiary institution the practical
aspect of their field of study by exposing students to machines and equipment, professional
work methods and ways of safeguarding the works areas and workers in industries and other
organization.

1.4 Objectives of SIWES

The Industrial Training Funds policy Document No. 1 1973 which established SIWES
outlined the objectives of the scheme. The objectives are to:
 Provide an avenue for students in higher institutions of learning to acquire industrial
skills and experiences during their course of study.
 Prepare students for industrial work situations that they are likely to meet after
graduation.
 Expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and
machinery that may not be available in their institutions.
 Make the transition from school to the world of work easier and enhance students’
contracts for later job placements.
 Provide students with the opportunities to apply their educational knowledge in real
work situations, thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice.
 Enlist and strengthen employers’ involvement in the entire educational process and
prepare students for employment in Industry and Commerce.

1.3 Importance of SIWES to Renewable Energy Technology Engineering

1. It exposes students to more practical work methods and techniques in Renewable
Energy technology engineering.
2. It provides students in Renewable energy technology engineering with an opportunity
to apply their theoretical knowledge to real life situations.
3. It enables students in Renewable energy technology engineering to gain experience in
handling equipment and machineries knowledge to real life situations.
4. It provides an environment whereby students in Renewable energy technology
engineering can develop their creativity and interpersonal skills through software design
techniques.

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 CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Brief History Of Organization
The training was in Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade the department started 2 years ago.

2.1 Objectives of the Establishment

To become a highly recognized company that architects, clients and competitors alike will
see us as one of the first choice contractors in the construction industry. To achieve this
objectives, we believe in the following:

1. To improve construction quality and productivity to levels comparable with those

developed countries.
2. To ensure building safety, well managed and maintained buildings, and administer a
progressive regularly framework.
3. To build lasting and successful clients and architects.
4. Promotion of power saving and environmentally friendly construction best practices
and materials to be implemented among housing development industry.

2.2 Organization Structure Of The Establishment

Fig 1: Organizational structure of Gateway ict Polytechnic, Renewable Energy Technology

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 CHAPTER THREE
ACTIVITIES CARRY OUT IN THE ORGANIZATION

3.0 Installation Of Solar Street Flood Light

Fig. 2: Schematic Diagram of Street Light System

Integrated solar street lights and Tools Preparation

– All integrated solar street light parts including pole

– Steel cage with four protruding bolts
– Tools:
o Wrench
o Hoisting mechanism
o Screwdrivers and cutters to work with wires

Fig. 3: List of tools

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Step1. Connect the cables between solar panels and lamps

Fig. 4: cable connection between solar panel and lamps

Step 2: Fix an integrated solar street light with 6 pcs screws.

Fig. 4: fixing of solar street light with 6pcs screws

Step 2 – Integrated solar street lights pole dig preparation

Solar street lights can be installed virtually in any location. Find a level area to erect the pole
on. Check the solar street light installation user manuals first, which will inform you of
unique features and installation requirements.

Before installation, a solar street light pole requires a foundation. The best choice is a metal
street light installation cage embedded in concrete. You can purchase or build this metal cage
if you have a production facility.

According to the height of the pole and the weight of the solar street light, we determine the
length, width, and height of the hole, for example, for a 6m pole, the dig hole long:50 cm,
Wide:50cm, the depth:80cm, and ensure there aren’t any obstructions such as rocks or pipes.

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 Fig. 5: Hole for solar street pole

Step 3- Inject cement and put the flange in the cement.

1. Please make sure the flange Is flat.

Fig. 5: image of flange

2. After 3 days, the cement is dry.

Fig. 6: image of dry flange

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Step 4-Install the solar street light on the pole in advance.

Fig. 6: image of solar pole

Step 5-Put the pole into a flange with screws

Fig. 7: image of solar pole screw to the ground

3.1 Type of Solar Panel Mounts

I learnt different type of Solar Panel Mounts. Solar Panel Mounts are used to Install
photovoltaic panels. These mounts are available in 3 main types:
1. Pole Mounts
2. Rood-ground mounts; and
3. Flush mounts
With the help of these mounts, you can install your solar panel on RV, on rooftop or stagnant
the side of a pole, on your roof. You can even install them as a free-standing unit.

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 Fig. 8: Types of Solar Panel Mount
3.2 Precaution need before Solar Panel Installation
During my SIWES program, I was taught some precaution measure before working on a solar
system installation, some of the safety measure a listed below.
1. Stop Working in Bad Weather Conditions: The first safety rule to keep in mind is to
stop working in bad weather. Working on solar panel or other photovoltaic components
means you are working on electricity, and you can get electrocuted during a storm. Also, a
strong wind might cause damage to the photovoltaic system before it gets properly installed.
The risk of slipping or imbalance is increased during the rainy season. Also, ensure that you
do not install a solar system alone. Take at least one qualified person with you.

2. Wear insulated gloves when working with solar modules: Solar modules carry an
electric charge, so you need to wear insulated gloves to protect yourself. When installing
solar panels, be careful not to get the house’s sheathing wet, as this can cause a leak on the
roof. This is usually a problem with new roofs, but older roofs can leak, especially if shingles
are missing or have been removed at some point.

3. Never climb ladders while carrying solar panels: Lift solar panels onto rooftops using
cranes or forklifts. Make sure these appliances have been properly checked. Solar panels can
be very heavy, so make sure the roof is strong enough to bear the weight of the solar panels
before you assemble your solar panels. When working on roofs, always ensure that extreme
safety precautions (including harnesses, lifelines, and safety nets) are in place to prevent
slipping, falling, injury, or death. Make sure they work properly before you start installing
your PV system. When working on a photovoltaic system, it is advisable to use insulated

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tools. Use rubber mats to keep the ladder from slipping and ask another person to hold the
ladder securely while climbing.

5. Check the PV system for damage: You not only want perfectly working solar
components because they cost a lot of money, but also damaged cables and components can
lead to losses in the system production as well as possible fires and additional damage. The
first thing to do when you want to install solar PV systems is to check them for damage.

3.3 Things to Do Before Solar System Installation

1. Cost Calculation: The first step is to calculate the cost involved in setting up the type and
size of the system.
2. Equipment Needed: Second step is to make a checklist of the equipment needed for a solar
energy system: Solar Panels, Charge Controller, Power Inverter, and Battery.
3. Size of the System: The next step is to determine the size of the solar system required. You
should add up wattage of all the electrical appliances that you plan to use. Calculate how
many hours per day the appliances will be used.

3.4 Solar Panel Installation Guide – Step by Step Process

Solar panels can be used to generate electricity for both commercial and home use. In both
cases, the Photovoltaic Panel are installed on Roof Top to get maximum possible sunlight and
generate maximum electricity from the system. Following are the steps involved in the
installation process:
Step-1: Mount Installation
The first step is to fix the mounts that will support he Solar Panels. It can be Roof-ground
mounts or flush mounts depending on the requirement. This base structure provides support
and sturdiness. Care is taken on direction in which the PV panels (monocrystalline or
polycrystalline) will be installed. For countries in the Northern Hemisphere, the best direction
to face solar panels is south because it gets maximum sunlight. East and West directions will
also do. For countries in the Southern Hemisphere, the best direction is North. Again, the
mounting structure must be slightly tilted. Angle of the tilt could be between 18 to 36 Degree.
Many companies use a solar tracker to increase the conversion efficiency.

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Step-2: Install the Solar Panels
Next step is to fix the solar panels with the mounting structure. This is done by tightening
nuts and bolts. Care is taken to secure the whole structure properly so that it is sturdy and
lasts long.

Step-3: Do Electrical Wiring

Next step is to do the electrical wiring. Universal Connectors like MC4 are used during
wiring because these connectors can be connected with all type of solar panels. These panels
can be electrically connected with each other in following series:
1. Series Connection: In this case, the Positive (+) Wire is of one PV module is connected
to the Negative (–) Wire of another module. This type of wiring increases the
voltage match with the battery bank.
2. Parallel Connection: In this case, Positive (+) to Positive (+) and Negative (–) to
Negative (–) connection is done. This type of wiring voltage of each panel remains same.

Step-4: Connect the System to Solar Inverter

Next step is to connect the system to a solar inverter. The Positive wire from the solar panel
is connected to the Positive terminal of the inverter and the Negative wire is connected to the
Negative terminal of the inverter.

Step-5: Connect Solar Inverter and Solar Battery

Next step is to connect the solar inverter and the solar battery. The positive terminal of the
battery is connected with the positive terminal of the inverter and negative to negative.
Battery is needed in off grid solar system to store electricity backup.

Step-6: Connect Solar Inverter to the Grid

Next step is to connect the inverter to the grid. To make this connection, a normal plug is
used to connect to the main power switch board. An output wire is connected with electric
board that supplies electricity to the home.

Step: 7: Start Solar Inverter

Now when all the electrical wiring and connections are done, it is time to start the inverter
switch ON the Main Switch of the Home. Most solar inverters will have digital display to
show you stats regarding generation and usage of solar unit.

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Fig. 8: Solar Panel Installation Diagram

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 CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Siwes Challenge

Difficulty in finding a place for industrial training is a big problem for students on the SIWES
program. These are the situations whereby you will write a company’s aptitude test but
because you do not know anybody within the company or that no one can speak on your
behalf then you lose the placement. Nigerian government in collaboration with SIWES
should help students when it comes to securing a place for the training; or provide a policy
that gives a Nigerian student right to be taken in any company he/she applied for the training.
By so doing, the time wasted at home while searching for a place by the student will be
minimized.

4.1 Conclusion
The SIWES program expected to be undergone by all students in the school of applied
science in all tertiary institution in Nigeria. I therefore deeply appreciate the industrial
training of my school (The Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade, Ogun State) for involving
themselves in such a worldwide program. The importance of this training cannot be over
emphasized industrial training by some operations carried out during the program.

4.2 Recommendation
 Acceptance of SIWES students by other organizations without any hitch to broaden
student’s experience
 The bodies responsible for SIWES activities should endeavor stipends are paid to
encourage students.
 Firms/ Employers Support
 Employers of labour accepting internship students should always ensure that they’re
properly monitored, taught and disciplined,

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