Akon, whose Akon Lighting Africa initiative aims to bring electricity to the 600 million Africans who lack it, announced on Thursday the launch of a new “Solar Academy” for the continent.

The institution, scheduled to open this summer in, will give African engineers the skills needed to develop solar power. European experts will help supply training equipment and programs. The academy will aim to teach people how to install and maintain solar-powered electricity systems as well as micro grids, “which are really taking off in rural Africa,” Akon Lighting Africa said.

Harnessing solar energy is an ideal way to enable those Africans without electricity to get it since Africa has 320 days of sunshine a year, Samba Baithily co-founder of Akon Lighting Africa said.

“We have the sun and innovative technologies to bring electricity to homes and communities. We now need to consolidate African expertise.

Although his music may not be as prevalent as it once was, Akon’s new role will surely bring a much bigger impact to the world.

[Via The Huffington Post]