Enlit Africa 2023 returns with a world-class exhibition showcasing the latest technology and services on offer in the power and energy sector, under the theme The multi-dimensional, multi-sectoral energy transition.  
 
Known for its compelling content and speakers, Enlit Africa includes a live conference, exhibition, roundtables, co-located events and exclusive one-on-one interviews with leaders in the energy sector. All this plus product launches, innovative technology showcases, site visits, networking, and more.  

 
VIEW THE ENLIT AFRICA 2023 PROGRAMME
 

The multi-dimensional, multi-sectoral energy transition  

In 2022, Enlit Africa focused on Africa’s just energy transition, and how the $8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) intended to contribute to the early retirement of coal plants, build cleaner energy sources and support the transition of coal-dependent regions. This year, the lens adjusts to Just Energy Transition Investment and South Africa’s JET Investment Plan, which sets out the investment roadmap for transitioning South Africa — the world’s 12th biggest carbon emitter — to an energy transition that attracts investment, creates new industries and jobs and achieves energy security and climate resilience. Understanding this plan gives context to the multi-sectoral elements that make up the overall roadmap to a low carbon future.

The Investment Plan indicates that South Africa will require approximately R1.5 trillion over the next five years to enable a just transition and achieve the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions. The question is: where will this financing come from? And what are the capacity requirements to make this plan a reality?

“We are excited to explore the various elements of Just Energy Transition investments, not only in South Africa, but across the continent as a whole. Understand where the money is coming from, and how it will be invested will give us a clear picture of the challenges and opportunities the transition will bring. Because each country’s transition will be unique, this is an opportunity to be innovative in the way we plan Africa’s future,” says Claire Volkwyn, Head of content for Enlit Africa.

Join our expert panel as we discuss these questions and more in the opening Keynote session on Day 1 of Enlit Africa. Additional topics of discussions include the practical energy transition, energy access and affordability, implementation of storage, and a number of practically focused, technical presentations.   

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR ENLIT AFRICA 2023
 

Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment 

Day 2 explores Africa’s energy transition ambitions which are currently being tested in the face of a global recession, rising poverty, unemployment and falling utility revenue. 

In addition to the staggering sums of investment that have been identified for the technology and headline achievements of the energy transition, Africa is facing the reality that it will likely not meet SDG7 (energy access for all by 2030). How do we bring together the combined need for a transition with the promise of access – while ensuring that productive use of energy and long-term employment and economic development opportunities are part of the delivery strategy? 

Join us as we discuss not only the financial requirements, but the requirements for skills and economic development too. 

 
On Day 3, the programme delves into renewables and the new landscape facing IPPs, shining a light on regional energy developments. The democratisation of energy in Africa is also a hot topic on Day 3, as the programme explores how communities can become part of the solution through equitable access and ownership of energy, thereby building a vibrant, inclusive energy democracy model for Africa. Technical presentations will also provide participants with possible solutions to improving delivery, deployment and operation of transmission assets in Africa. 

Says Volkwyn: “We look forward to welcoming the industry back to Cape Town for our first event with no COVID-19 restrictions. We had a wonderful event in 2022 despite the restrictions under which we operated and know that 2023 will exceed expectations.” 

DOWNLOAD THE ENLIT AFRICA 2022 POST EVENT REPORT
 

About Enlit Africa 2023 

The energy transition is more than just a transition to cleaner energy – it is a journey to a completely new energy landscape in which generation, transmission and distribution networks evolve and adapt to bi-directional electricity flows, distributed energy, intermittent renewable energy and new grid technologies. However, this transition is not just about embracing the new — it is about understanding the role that more traditional infrastructure will play in the future and considering the role a multitude of technologies are going to play.  

At the beginning of 2021, African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa rebranded as Enlit Africa, transitioning to embrace the new dynamic and welcome the step change in Africa’s power and energy industry. Our programme reflects the entire power and energy landscape, asks the hard questions and provides the answers to the most challenging questions.  

Enlit Africa runs from 16-18 May 2023 at the CTICC in Cape Town. This year marks the 23^rd anniversary of this annual gathering of energy industry professionals. 

We believe that the collaborative efforts of civil society, government and all impacted stakeholders are necessary to ensure a just, sustainable, affordable and timely energy transition for Africa. 

More information can be found at https://enlit-africa.com/ 
 

FOLLOW ENLIT AFRICA ON LINKEDIN FOR THE LATEST UPDATES
 

Industry support 

Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the City of Cape Town have been official hosting partners of the event for many years and 2023 will be no exception. 

For any queries please contact: Claire Volkwyn Claire.volkwyn@wearevuka.com  

The post Africa’s energy transition: Enlit Africa launches 2023 programme appeared first on Power Engineering International.

Due to industry demand, our final call for papers deadline has been extended to 5 November 2022.

We are especially interested in:

• Presentations by utility, government and municipal staff;
• Leading-edge information and emerging trends across the entirety of the power sector in power generation, transmission, distribution and related disciplines;
• Practical strategies for improvement and innovative, non-traditional approaches to grid management; and
• ‘How to’ best practices and case studies, including tangible implementation tools
• Enlit Africa will focus on 4 conference themes, each linked to the management and operation of the power sector:

Track 1: Strategic management, finance and investment

Track 2: Smart energy, transmission and distribution and beyond

Track 3: Energy storage and alternative solutions

Track 4: Generation

Download your form for submissions by clicking here: DOWNLOAD FORM

Once you are done please submit your proposal to Claire Volkwyn the head of content: claire.volkwyn@wearevuka.com

About Enlit Africa:

16 – 18 May 2023: Enlit Africa 2023 will return to the CTICC in Cape Town with a world-class exhibition, showcasing the latest technology and services on offer in the sector. Known for its compelling content and speakers, the organisers will not disappoint, with two keynotes and all of the content presented in speaking hubs on the expo floor. Conference delegates will also be able to enjoy the networking and site visits that the event has popularised for over two decades.

The post Enlit Africa call for papers deadline – 5 November 2022 appeared first on Power Engineering International.

The chief executive of Siemens Southern and Eastern Africa said that African countries have a key role in contributing to climate change solutions – but they need to be seen to take action at home first to entice investors.

“We [private companies like Siemens] have all signed up to net-zero commitments,” Dall’Omo told an audience at Enlit Africa in Cape Town, adding that investors want to see this kind of commitment in African countries too.

Dall’Omo made it clear that if a country wants to attract international investors like Siemens, governments need to make sure the grids and power generation, the entire electricity value chain, are based on renewable resources.

In order to drive decarbonisation on the continent, it is vitally important to attract and keep investors at a time when large amounts of clean energy investment will be needed for a green transition.

Africa’s role in unlocking solutions to climate change lies in its abundance of renewable resources. However, governments need to make a commitment to developing those resources in a way that fosters investment and promotes bankable projects.

Have you read?
South Africa’s energy transition proves a balancing act despite EU funding
Dark continent? Enlit Africa and industry leaders showcase power and energy industry development

A recipe to secure investment

However, there is more to it than just net-zero commitments.

Said Dall’Omo: “If you want to achieve an investor-friendly situation, you need two things: you need to have power all the time, no load shedding; and you need renewable power.”

Investors are not attracted to a country where the utility does not provide the basic service, where the grid is not managed, or have businesses turning to diesel generators to keep the lights on, she emphasised.

“Investors are attracted to a country that embraces a better rule of law and where society is embracing payment for infrastructure.”

South Africa’s hydrogen hub: A corridor of opportunity

Even though South Africa is behind the curve concerning power supply and grid stability, Dall’Omo suggests that the fact that President Ramaphosa and his team are business orientated and are showing progress on sector reform stands the country in good stead.

Important steps such as the Just Energy Transition partnership commitment made at COP26 in Glasgow, South Africa’s hydrogen development plan and the recent 100MW threshold for independent power generation are good investor signals, according to Dall’Omo.

“The 100MW threshold decision will enable positive benefit on the government’s ESG communication to stakeholders and investors, because [investors] are looking for that. You can’t come with greenwashing, proof is needed.”

Ukraine and COVID

Optimising the African investment climate is even more important now that Europe is experiencing an energy crisis.

“The Ukraine war and the COVID-19 crisis have shown that no one wants to be dependent on one resource. This will fast track the transition and the development of cost-effective technologies, technologies that can be deployed in Africa.

“Companies will also be diversifying their supply chain and looking to countries that are not already super powers for [power] production.”

This could be a significant opportunity for Africa to fill many gaps across Europe, suggested Dall’Omo.

The post Net-zero compliance is vital to woo investors to Africa says Siemens boss appeared first on Power Engineering International.

Unpacking the ideal energy mix for one of Africa’s leading economies, was a hot topic in several conversations at Enlit Africa in Cape Town this week.

One particular panel discussion highlighted how Eskom is planning to shift away from coal and the potential role of gas as a transition fuel.

The coal conundrum

Mandy Rambharos, general manager: Just Energy Transition at South African state utility Eskom, emphasised that South Africa urgently needs to move away from coal and look to plug and play technologies that are available now, such as solar, wind, gas and pumped storage. “For the next five years, we need to rely on cost-effective technology that is currently commercially in operation.”

Besides shutting coal plants, Eskom is also planning to repower and repurpose 8GW of coal power plants with 100MW of solar PV, 70MW of wind, as well as storage and gas.

According to Rambharos, the challenge is that the entire coal-based business model is deeply engrained. “Technology is easy to change, there are financing challenges, but there are willing investors. It’s the mindsets and social impacts that carry the most weight. Coal has been central to building communities and now the emphasis needs to be on achieving a just transition, not merely a change to cleaner energy.”

Have you read?
South Africa’s energy transition proves a balancing act despite EU funding
Davos debates the changing role of clean energy superpowers

Going for gas

Gas will play an important role in South Africa’s energy mix in the future, according to Thabang Audat, chief director: Energy Planning – South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. “Three thousand megawatts of gas to power capacity is in the pipeline with the government planning to issue a request for proposals in October 2022.” Audat added that the Gas Master Plan will be finalised in March 2023, which will develop gas at scale and drive demand.

However, said Audat, a secure domestic supply of gas is critical to South Africa’s energy economy. For this reason, collaborative agreements with neighbouring states, such as Mozambique, must be in place to ensure sufficient gas for system flexibility.

The TotalEnergies gas project in Mozambique will deliver the first supply to South Africa by 2027, a good example of how this collaboration could work.

In an earlier keynote session, Eskom’s CEO André de Ruyter emphasised the importance of gas, to ensure system stability as the country shifts to cleaner energy solutions. “We need dispatchable power to make up for the variability we inevitably see from renewable energy. Renewable energy only works when the wind blows or the sun shines,” said De Ruyter.

Nuclear plans

Audat did not discount the role of nuclear energy in balancing South Africa’s grid. “The question is how quickly and at what cost can nuclear be delivered,” he said.

South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power station, the only nuclear power plant on the continent, will continue to provide stable base load power, however, the plant is coming to the end of its life and a life extension programme is required to keep the 1900MW alive.

Panellists emphasised that, rather than nuclear, South Africa should look to renewables to drive down the cost of generation, allowing more people to participate in the energy economy.

Energy integration

Speakers agreed that regional integration is vital to South Africa’s successful energy transition. Nosizwe Dlengezele, regional sales executive: Gas Power Sub-Saharan Africa – GE, emphasised that a “sovereign, in-country perspective does not always serve us well,” referencing the hydrogen development between South Africa and Namibia as an example of the benefits of cross border collaboration.

Panellists noted the importance of regulatory frameworks that encourage integration between countries. However, it requires “true political will and proper execution and planning,” said Dlengezele.

Is there such a thing as a perfect energy mix for South Africa? According to Dlengezele, there is. “An energy mix with net zero as the central goal, designed to grow the economy and drive industrial growth and leverage existing skill sets. A mix that enables utilities to operate the system most effectively, allowing a place for all technologies while driving down emissions – that is the goal.” Definitely food for thought for delegates participating in the Enlit Africa conference and exhibition.

The post No clear plan for South Africa’s life after coal appeared first on Power Engineering International.

When the governments of South Africa, France, Germany, the UK and the US, along with the European Union, decided at COP26 in Glasgow to collaborate to decarbonise South Africa’s energy sector, they knew the road ahead would be bumpy and long.

Details provided by the panellists at the opening of Enlit Africa, hosted in Cape Town from 7-9 June, confirmed that this journey is indeed facing many challenges.

South Africa is facing a fine balancing act as it looks to define a plan to net zero, secure the investment needed to make that plan a reality and ensure a just energy transition that doesn’t leave anyone behind.

While the ball is in South Africa’s court to take the first, crucial steps toward decarbonisation, collaboration between national and international stakeholders is key.

Have you read?
Ghana mini-grid and solar PV net metering project launches
Moroccan sun to power British homes with new interconnector

Funding fundamentals

However, funding from global partners like the European Union and the US is only a slice of an energy transition pie. Other variables needed such as private sector funding, successful public-private partnerships and a regulatory framework that encourages investment. All while ensuring energy security, a priority on the global agenda.

André de Ruyter, Group Chief Executive of South Africa’s state-owned utility Eskom, said: “South Africa’s energy transition has become inevitable, however, we require substantial investment in new generation and concerted efforts on many fronts. It’s a doable project, but it will take billions to make it happen”.

Currently, South Africa’s energy sector is going through a period of change, as Eskom moves to unbundle and market reforms are expected to enable electricity trade and a rapid rollout of new generation capacity funded by the private sector.

These are positive signals for investors, however, moving from a monopoly-type market to a competitive landscape brings risks and uncertainties, as does an energy sector that continues to rely heavily on coal power.    

Coupled with regulatory change and the country’s reliance on coal, grid access is one of the biggest hindrances to South Africa’s green transition.

Over the next decade, significant investments are needed to build 8000-10,000km of transmission lines and 101 new substations – a plan that will require R131 billion ($8 billion) to roll. This is significantly more than the value Just Energy Transition partnership.

Also, between 3000 and 6000MW of gas-fired generation infrastructure will need to be developed, as gas will prove to be an important transition fuel, providing the dispatchable power needed to make up for the variability of renewables. 

It’s this need for system stability that is keeping the country dependent on coal. According to De Ruyter, “we will continue to use coal for a long period of time, way beyond 2035”.

South Africa’s economy is historically based on coal, said De Ruyter, and the country can’t ignore the decades of investment in the coal value chain. South Africa has a moral and social obligation to ensure those assets are not merely abandoned and communities left without jobs.

Investment and government commitment

According to De Ruyter, Eskom is not just looking to grants and international climate funding in order to change its operations. “The private sector is waiting with bated breath for opportunities to invest.”

And the private sector will certainly need to come to the party, if South Africa, the world’s largest carbon emitter, is to shift away from coal while maintaining economic growth.

Tanja Werheit, German consul general in South Africa, added: “A whole government and whole society approach is needed to ensure we speed up the transition. A just and sustainable energy transition can offer South Africa great economic opportunities.”

Bernard Rey, head of corporation, EU delegation to South Africa, highlighted that Europe is truly behind Africa in its green development efforts and will support the government in its drive for a clean energy future.  

However, to successfully support South Africa, he said it is important “that Europe acts together, with all member states acting as team Europe”.

“If we are organised and want to achieve greater scale, impact and transformation – financial instruments must be harmonised.

“We can provide resources to the budget of the state, resources that unlock green investments within public and private sectors,” but this process must be a knowledge-based transition including dialogue with all stakeholders, added Rey.

The opening keynote emphasised that Africa’s energy transition is inextricably linked to the green transition of the rest of the world and according to Werheit, other nations that are reliant on fossil fuels can use South Africa’s shift from coal and the multilateral approach to achieve this in a just way as a blueprint.

Rey concluded that Europe has many of the same problems, and a successful energy transition in South Africa will prove to be a mutual learning exercise.

The post South Africa’s energy transition proves a balancing act despite EU funding appeared first on Power Engineering International.

Have you read?
Hybrid waste-to-energy plant boosts agriculture in Ghana
PepsiCo microgrid marks a first for South African grid connected projects

De Ruyter has said that by next year “we should start seeing additional capacity brought to the grid and we really look forward to that which will alleviate some of the pressure we are currently seeing and give us more headroom to perform maintenance on Eskom fleets.” 

He has shared further that Eskom had started a bid process for renewable energy projects on Eskom-owned land which would also be added to the grid in the next 18-24 months. Says Claire Volkwyn, Head of Content, Enlit Africa, “These moves are well in line with global trends toward the procurement of more renewable energy generation as part of the energy transition to a cleaner, greener, more sustainable energy sector – and the focus of discussions at Enlit Africa.” 

Formerly known around the continent as African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa, Enlit Africa has been connecting the utility industry on the continent for more than two decades. Volkwyn continues, “June’s edition will bring new features to the line-up, including the first fully hybrid Enlit Africa event – with the Opening Keynote address taking place over two days and sessions streamed to attendees around the world via our digital platforms.” 

Enlit Africa’s programme highlights will focus on the changing energy sector, the energy transition and the technology brining light to millions across the continent. Presentations and panel discussions will cover some of the following: 

Keynote addresses focussing on the collaborative efforts being undertaken to forward the energy transition across the continent.

• Unpacking the realities of Africa’s energy transition 
• The future of gas in Southern Africa and Gas Master Plans 
• Alternative funding mechanisms 
• Scaling up your clean energy business 
• Financing transmission infrastructure 
• Revenue management in utilities 
• TID Rollover: Expediting rollover programme implementation for utilities with large install base 
• NERC Meter Installation Performance Dashboard “Measuring Meter Installation Progress at the Country Level 
• Asset life extension and protection 
• Improving the reliability and efficiency of supply  
• Unlocking wheeling tariffs at municipalities 
• Energy storage: the cornerstone of a successful energy transition? 
• Integrating BESS at a municipal level 
• Update on 100MW self-generation for commercial and industrial entities 

Stephen Campbell, commercial project lead for the event said, “We are pleased to be welcoming back industry leaders and associations including Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy, City of Cape Town, WESGRO, SAESA and more. We are also proud to announce that ESI Africa will be covering the event as our official partner publication.” 

The post Africa’s energy transition – no one left behind appeared first on Power Engineering International.

The highlights will focus on the changing energy sector, the energy transition and the technology bringing light to millions across Africa.

Formerly known around the continent as African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa, Enlit Africa has been connecting the utility industry on the continent for more than two decades.

Claire Volkwyn, head of content, Enlit Africa, stated: “June’s edition will bring new features to the line-up, including the first fully hybrid Enlit Africa event – with the Opening Keynote address taking place over two days and sessions streamed to attendees around the world via our digital platforms.”

Stephen Campbell, commercial project lead for the event added: “We are pleased to be welcoming back industry leaders and associations, including Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy, City of Cape Town, WESGRO, SAESA and more.”

Have you read?
Solar efficiency research advances decarbonised heating and cooling
Hybrid power plants: Tailoring technology to deliver decarbonisation

The event’s keynote addresses will focus on the collaborative efforts being undertaken to forward the energy transition across the continent.

Presentations and panel discussions will cover:

• Unpacking the realities of Africa’s energy transition
• The future of gas in Southern Africa and Gas Master Plans
• Alternative funding mechanisms
• Scaling up your clean energy business
• Financing transmission infrastructure
• Revenue management in utilities
• TID rollover: Expediting rollover programme implementation for utilities with large install base
• NERC Meter Installation Performance Dashboard “Measuring meter installation progress at the country level
• Asset life extension and protection
• Improving the reliability and efficiency of supply
• Unlocking wheeling tariffs at municipalities
• Energy storage: The cornerstone of a successful energy transition?
• Integrating BESS at a municipal level
• Update on 100MW self-generation for commercial and industrial entities

Enlit Africa comes in as, in early April, the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy announced that it was opening bids for window six of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

It is anticipated that 2,600MW of renewable energy will be procured from Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Of this, 1.6GW will be produced by wind – in line with the gazetted IRP2019.

Eskom chief executive, Andre de Ruyter, has said that by next year “we should start seeing additional capacity brought to the grid and we really look forward to that which will alleviate some of the pressure we are currently seeing and give us more headroom to perform maintenance on Eskom fleets.”

Taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Enlit Africa will be both in-person and online.

Registrations can be done online.

The post Africa’s energy transition in the spotlight at Enlit Africa 2022 appeared first on Power Engineering International.

The leading platform and discussion forum for the power and energy sector on the continent will specifically focus on how the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), taking place in November, could provide the launchpad for Africa’s energy transition.

Formerly known as African Utility Week, Enlit Africa is unpacking what the continent needs to concentrate on to decarbonise the power sector. Running from 26–28 October, Enlit Africa will provide practical solutions to prepare the continent for a NetZero reality. The programme looks at various ways to achieve this; from LNG as a transitional energy source, municipal energy independence, e-mobility, and how Africa is preparing for, and what it is expecting from, the COP26 summit.

During Mr de Ruyter’s previous keynote appearance at a previous edition of the event, he shared Eskom’s long-term strategy, discussed the utility’s plans for decommissioning existing coal stations and repurposing the infrastructure, as well as moving into renewable energy. During the keynote session in October this year, the Eskom CE will give more insight into Eskom’s COP26 journey and the anticipated outcomes.

Other confirmed industry experts appearing in the Enlit Africa sessions are:

• Meike Wetsch, programme manager, Coega Development Corporation, South Africa
• Dhevan Govender, senior commercial & business manager, eThekwini Municipality, South Africa
• Adrian Strydom, executive director, SA Oil and Gas Alliance
• Frederic Verdol, senior energy expert: energy & extractives, World Bank
• Vally Padayachee, special advisor, Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities
• Jessica Stephens, CEO, AMDA, Kenya
• Roland Nkwain Ngam, programme manager: climate justice and socio-ecological transformation, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, South Africa
• Patrick K. Tonui, head of policy and regional strategy, GOGLA, The Netherlands

Enlit Africa session highlights will include:

• Keynote session: How COP26 could provide the launchpad for Africa’s energy transition.
• To LNG or not: Is that the question?
• Municipal Energy Resilience in South Africa – assisting local government to take advantage of new energy regulations, including purchasing energy directly from IPPs.
• E-mobility: Creating a regulatory and policy environment to encourage EV uptake.
• Prepayment as a precursor to enhanced energy and financial efficiency.
• Digital equity: Ensuring that digital advances are equitable and just.
• Energy storage: Generation, transmission or distribution asset?
• Finance, investment and strategy: Is there an oversupply of funding and an undersupply of projects?
• ROUNDTABLE: Heading to COP26: Has the COVID-19 crises derailed the climate finance agenda?
• Waste not, want not: re-use, recycle and reclaim your wastewater.
• Water security 2.0: Looking Durban’s experience in addressing monumental water challenges.

Gathering the industry
Formerly known around the continent as African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa, Enlit Africa has been connecting the utility industry on the continent for more than two decades and in the next edition will also bring back its popular water track. October’s digital edition is a precursor in the lead-up to the hybrid event in Cape Town in June next year.

In tune with this year’s theme, leading power and event media partner ESI Africa will highlight the leaders and projects nominated to the African Power & Energy Elites annual publication. During the Enlit Africa digital event in October, the finalists who will  appear in the 2022 edition of the Elites publication will be announced.

Enlit Africa’s successful transition to digital
The fast-growing attendee numbers and feedback from participants and partners fully support the remarkable and successful transition that the organisers of the event have made from live events to providing a digital forum for the industry to connect via live, online events on the Enlit Africa-Connect platform.

The June edition of the event, the third in the last 18 months, attracted more than 5,000 registered attendees, representing more than 70 countries and featuring 50 speakers.

All the previous Enlit Africa sessions remain available on demand on the event platform. For access, register on the Enlit Africa-Connect platform by clicking here.

Industry support
Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the City of Cape Town have been official hosting partners of the event for many years and 2021 is no exception.

ESI Africa, the continent’s leading news provider for power and energy news, is the official host publication.

Enlit Africa is organised by Clarion Events Africa, a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the infrastructure, energy and mining sectors. Other well-known events include Nigeria Mining Week, Africa Mining Forum and DRC Mining Week.

Enlit Africa dates and venues
Digital Event: 26–28 October 2021
Next live, in-person conference and exhibition: 7–9 June 2022
Venue: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Website: www.enlit-africa.com  

The post Enlit Africa confirms head of South Africa’s utility for opening session appeared first on Power Engineering International.

“It’s about moving from theory to implementation, it’s time to get stuck in and become practical as the African continent transitions towards NetZero by 2050, and COP26 in November is a very important pitstop in that journey,” says Claire Volkwyn, programme director for Enlit Africa, the leading power and energy platform and discussion forum, returning from 26 to 28 October.

Formerly known around the continent as African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa, Enlit Africa has been connecting the utility industry on the continent for more than two decades and in the next edition will also bring back its popular water track. October’s digital edition is a precursor in the lead-up to the hybrid event in Cape Town in June next year.

Volkwyn adds: “There was such a great response to our theme of ‘The 5Ds* of the energy transition’ during our event in June, focusing on what the continent needs to concentrate on to decarbonise the power sector. In October we move into the practical implementation of solutions to prepare the continent for a NetZero reality, including looking at LNG as a transitional energy source, municipal energy independence, E-mobility, and what Africa is bringing to and expecting from the COP26 summit.”

*decarbonisation, decentralisation, democratisation, digitalisation and deregulation

“It takes strong leadership and innovative projects to take an idea from theory to implementation,” says Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl, editor of ESI Africa and African Power & Energy Elites journals. She explains: “It is only through the resilience of successful leaders and projects that Africa can deliver on its net-zero ambitions. In tune with this year’s theme, ESI Africa will highlight the leaders and projects nominated to the African Power & Energy Elites annual publication. During the Enlit Africa digital event in October, we will announce the finalists who will appear in the 2022 edition of the Elites publication.”

Enlit Africa session highlights will include:

• Keynote session: How COP26 could provide the launchpad for Africa’s energy transition.
• To LNG or not: Is that the question?
• Municipal Energy Resilience in South Africa – assisting local government to take advantage of new energy regulations, including purchasing energy directly from IPPs.
• E-mobility: Creating a regulatory and policy environment to encourage EV uptake.
• Prepayment as a precursor to enhanced energy and financial efficiency.
• Digital equity: Ensuring that digital advances are equitable and just.
• Energy storage: Generation, transmission or distribution asset?
• Finance, investment and strategy: Is there an oversupply of funding and an undersupply of projects?
• EGovernment: Africa is in a prime position to utilise eGovernment services.
• ROUNDTABLE: Heading to COP26: Has the COVID-19 crises derailed the climate finance agenda?
• Waste not, want not: re-use, recycle and reclaim your wastewater.
• Water security 2.0: Looking Durban’s experience in addressing monumental water challenges.

Have you read?
Energy storage adoption in Africa
The transformation of Africa’s power and energy sector

Enlit Africa’s successful transition to digital
The fast-growing attendee numbers and feedback from participants and partners fully support the remarkable and successful transition that the organisers of the event have made from live events to providing a digital forum for the industry to connect via live, online events on the Enlit Africa Connect platform.

The June edition of the event, the third in the last 18 months, attracted more than 5,000 registered attendees, representing more than 70 countries and featuring 50 speakers.

Some of the feedback includes:

• “I would like to thank the Clarion Events team for the professional and creative execution of the Enlit Africa sessions. The technological advancement from the last digital event they hosted to this one is evident and it is comforting to witness the agile nature in which they worked with us.”
  – Gugu Masina, Brand Manager, Conlog
• “The African Utility Week has always been a direct way of reaching out to the entire African market for PRIME Alliance. With a single trip over 3 to 4 days, PRIME has been able to follow African priorities and interact with stakeholders in the African continent. With Enlit Africa’s new hybrid model, PRIME’s reach is further extended by joining more targeted sessions and intimate circles.”
  – Pilar Julián Arrieta, Strategic Consulting, ianusGroup
• “Thank you to the Enlit team for hosting us at the Enlit Africa Digital event for 2021. From the planning, guiding us and execution of our campaign, making sure that we are creating awareness of our brand, albeit in these trying times; we were thoroughly impressed. We can’t wait for the next one.”
  – Nonkululeko Mdhalose, Marketing Manager, Vexila

All the previous Enlit Africa sessions remain available on demand on the event platform. For access, register on the Enlit Africa-Connect platform by clicking here.

Industry support
Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the City of Cape Town have been official hosting partners of the event for many years and 2021 is no exception.

ESI Africa, the continent’s leading news provider for power and energy news, is the official host publication.

Enlit Africa is organised by Clarion Events Africa, a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the infrastructure, energy and mining sectors. Other well-known events include Nigeria Mining Week, Africa Mining Forum and DRC Mining Week.

Enlit Africa dates and venues:
Digital Event: 26–28 October 2021
Next live, in-person conference and exhibition: 7–9 June 2022
Venue: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Website: www.enlit-africa.com  Media contact:
Annemarie Roodbol
Email:   annemarie.roodbol@clarionevents.com

The post Enlit Africa is back in October as continent prepares for COP26 appeared first on Power Engineering International.

“Africa has a vast amount of sunlight and open spaces, which is available for solar, capturing solar energy, and, of course, quite a lot of wind as well,” said Ian Fraser, co-founder and chairman of the African Hydrogen Partnership. “It is not unreasonable to predict that Africa could become a net exporter of energy, particularly in terms of green hydrogen development, not only for local African use, but for export to other countries. Morocco, which is nicely positioned right at the top end of Africa, is already building a pipeline to export hydrogen into Europe.”

Have you read?
South African president’s self-generation announcement ‘bold but necessary’
Gas: South Africa’s bridge to a low carbon future?

Fellow panellist Monica Swanson, the business manager for international hydrogen projects at the Port of Rotterdam Authority remarked that in Europe, the energy demand for hydrogen, as part of various zero emission alternatives, is expected to be 60 million tonnes per annum by 2050. “That really is a lot,” she added, “if you look at what’s currently being produced, we’re not nearly close to that production volume. And as a port we’re now looking at the sources of hydrogen, where we can reach them, and see how we can build coalitions to make corridors to get hydrogen towards Rotterdam.” About 13% of all energy consumed in Europe is currently imported and distributed through the Dutch port.

Developing a hydrogen economy

Vincenzo Giordano, Director: Sustainability Solutions for Cities and Communities at ENGIE Impact, is part of a feasibility study with the South African Department of Science and Innovation, South African National Development Institute and Bambili Energy, to establish a hydrogen valley, stretching more than 800km from Anglo American’s Mogalakwena platinum mine near Mokopane in Limpopo Province, along the industrial and commercial corridor between Johannesburg and the South Coast of Durban.

“At the centre of this analysis,” said Giordano, “we have the concept of a hub, it’s an area where you have potential concentration of hydrogen demand across sectors. And this allows you to create economies of scale, possibly limit the transport costs, and improve the economics of the infrastructure project that you want to develop. So, the notion is that a hydrogen hub can serve as a sort of springboard for larger hydrogen development.”

Gas relatively clean and affordable

In an interview on the role of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) in Africa’s energy transformation, Christoph Reimnitz, the World LPG Association’s chairman of the gas-to-power working group, said Sub-Saharan Africa could avoid some of the mistakes made in the developed world and start electrification with cost competitive renewables, without having to invest in carbon intensive fuels, such as coal. However, according to Reimnitz, as electricity from renewables is intermittent, gas is the most obvious solution for power on demand, as it is a fossil fuel that is relatively clean and affordable.

“LPG is basically available in 130 countries or more globally, because it is widely used for cooking,” he explained. “It is stored in spheres or containers in ports, and then transported to distribution centres where it’s packaged in cylinders of six, eight and 10kg at a time, and then distributed to local households. So, you already have LPG infrastructure almost everywhere in Africa and it should be used for power generation, as should natural gas, because it is so similar. And people should consider using it and leveraging the existing infrastructure, because that allows you in a way to leapfrog, because you don’t have to go through the complicated and expensive planning processes if you were considering bringing in LNG.”

You can watch all the Enlit Africa digital event sessions on demand.

The post Hydrogen and LPG – the recipe for Africa’s net zero success appeared first on Power Engineering International.