International Conference on Renewable Energies in Africa (ICREA), Dakar, Senergal, 16-18 April 2008
I am currently attending ICREA (International Conference on Renewable Energies in Africa – Making Renewable Energy Markets Work for Africa), which is taking place in Dakar, Senegal (16-18 April). The Conference, which is being attended by forty-nine African countries, was opened by Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal. Wade pointed out that energy and infrastructure are the real foundations to African Development, and with continuing high oil prices, renewable energy technologies provided Africa with development opportunities which are both affordable and accessible.
Director-General of UNIDO, Dr. Yumkella pointed out that Africa will have a population of two billion people by 2050, and therefore energy planning needed to be an essential element of any country’s future planning and infrastructure, if crisis’s are not to occur. Dr Yumkella pointed out that wealth creation, rather than poverty alleviation should be the goal of African countries, and renewable energy provided countries with development opportunities.
The rest of the conference has been split between workshops and plenary sessions, and has included topics such as; Bioenergy, Scaling-up, Investment Frameworks, Grid Connections, Standards, Carbon Finance, Technology Transfer, Hydro Power, Geothermal, Solar, Wind, etc.
I gave a presentation in the plenary session entitled “Capacity Building and Research and Development for Renewable Energy Markets in Africa“. My presentation covered REEEP’s work in Africa with national governments and the twenty-nine projects we have undertaken in the continent, and in particular a joint project REEEP has undertaken with UNIDO to develop a Capacity Building Manual. The Manual looks to develop regulators and policy makers in Africa with the use of case studies, showing what has and hasn’t worked previously and why (further information can be found on the UNIDO website)
The Conference and the attached exhibition have been well attended, and conversations within the sessions and in the margins have focused on sharing experiences, and discussing ways to take the discussion forward in this climate of high oil prices.
Today, the third-day of the Conference is the Ministerial portion, in which a plan of action and declaration will be formulated setting out the way forward for Africa in the renewable energy market.
Tags: Africa, Dakar, Renewable Energy