ACES offers free PCM course

ACES has opened applications for a free training course in Kigali on phase change materials, or PCMs, aimed at technicians and professionals working in cooling systems. The in-person workshop is scheduled for September 21-22, 2026, at the ACES Rubirizi Campus in Kigali, Rwanda, according to the Centre for Sustainable Cooling training page. ACES says the course will cover both theory and practical experiments tied to thermal energy storage. The program is being offered without fees for the listed 2026 dates, and the intake is limited to 12 participants. ### What exactly is ACES offering in Kigali later this month? The Centre for Sustainable Cooling lists the program as an “Essentials on Phase Change Materials (PCMs)” course delivered in person at ACES in Kigali on September 21-22. The training page says it is structured as a two-day workshop balancing theory with hands-on practical experiments. (cleancooling.org) The course description says participants will study the science of phase change and thermal energy storage, learn how to identify suitable PCMs for specific applications, analyze experimental results on thermal performance, and design basic thermal storage systems incorporating PCMs. ACES says the course leader is Jean de Dieu Iyakaremye. (cleancooling.org) ### Who is the course meant for? ACES says the workshop is aimed at people working with refrigeration systems and HVAC technicians, as well as cold-room and commercial refrigeration operators, facility managers, project engineers, system designers, environmental officers, sustainability consultants, technical trainers, vocational educators, entrepreneurs in cold-chain and climate technology, and energy engineering students and professionals. (cleancooling.org) The Centre for Sustainable Cooling’s academy page lists the PCM course alongside other technical offerings in brazing, electrical safety, refrigeration and solar refrigeration, indicating the course is part of a broader professional training program at the Kigali center. ### What will participants do during the workshop? ACES says the syllabus covers PCM fundamentals, thermodynamics, types of PCMs, and selection criteria including temperature range, stability, compatibility, cost and safety. (cleancooling.org) The same course page says participants will also examine applications of PCMs and system integration. (cleancooling.org) Practical work is a central part of the course. ACES says the workshop includes melting and freezing curve experiments, a cold-box experiment, and a group design challenge and evaluation. A separate ACES news page says the training uses hybrid lectures and problem-based learning, alongside on-site demonstrations of PCM-powered refrigerated systems, transport boxes and solar-powered freezer-based PCM applications. (cleancooling.org) ### Why is ACES the organization running this training? ACES is the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain, a program hosted by the University of Rwanda at its Rubirizi Campus in Kigali, according to UNEP’s United for Efficiency initiative and the University of Rwanda. UNEP says the center was established with partners in Rwanda and the United Kingdom to develop and accelerate sustainable cold-chain solutions. (cleancooling.org) UNEP says ACES functions as a hub for research, training, technology demonstrations and technical assistance focused on sustainable cooling and cold-chain systems. That training role is also described by partner institutions including Heriot-Watt University and the University of Birmingham. ### How do people apply, and what happens next? ACES says applications for the September 21-22 course must be submitted by email before September 7, 2026. (ur.ac.rw) The course page says shortlisted candidates will be notified by September 14, 2026, and general enquiries can be sent to the ACES application address listed on the training page. (united4efficiency.org) The Centre for Sustainable Cooling academy page shows the Kigali PCM workshop as one of several ACES courses running through September, October and November 2026. For applicants to this course, the next dated milestone is the September 14 shortlist notification ahead of the September 21 start in Kigali. (cleancooling.org)