Event description put here
ARIS 2024 Registration starts. Delegates collect their delegate badges at registration facilities at ARIS, book meetings on matchmaking, grab coffee and tour stands before programme officially commences.
Opening keynote address by the AU followed by the Minister of Energy/Electricity of Republic of South Africa
This session will explore innovative strategies to lower the cost of capital, address financial barriers and enhance access to funding for renewable energy projects in Africa. It focuses on identifying cost-effective capital sources, fostering favorable regulatory environments and leveraging international financial instruments.
The momentum behind Africa’s immense green hydrogen opportunity is not moving fast enough, with all planned projects yet to reach financial close. For Africa to harness its hydrogen potential, the policy and regulatory framework should be conducive, and most importantly the projects in the pipeline have to be investment-worthy. This topic will explore potential solutions on how developers can develop investable hydrogen projects in Africa.
As wheeling frameworks develop in Africa, with markets such as South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya making tremendous inroads, the use of national grids to wheel renewable energy is growing on the continent. Many commercial and industrial businesses on the continent are seeking affordable alternative power supplies to power their operations. This topic will outline how wheeling can be instrumental in facilitating C&I specific renewable energy deals. Session focus: • Wheeling frameworks • C&I PPAs for wheeling projects • Cross-border energy trading
The demand for battery energy storage systems (BESSs) is increasing in Africa. BESSs help store the energy generated by solar or wind and dispatch it to the grid when required. They also help increase grid capacity and resilience. This topic will explore the available commercial opportunities for BESSs and lessons that can be drawn from South Africa’s successful Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producers Procurement (BESIPPP) programme Session focus: • Bankability of BESSs • Commercialising BESSs • Cost of BESSs
Mini grids help to provide reliable electricity to unserved populations where grid extension isn’t commercially viable. A lot of the projects experience low-capacity utilisation due to various factors, including low energy demand in host communities and lack of access to credit in host communities. This session will outline solutions to improve the commercial viability of mini grid projects. Session focus: • Stimulating demand for energy in rural communities • Improving access to finance • Opportunities in productive use of energy
Hydropower is underutilised in Africa, with the continent only harnessing 10% of its hydropower potential. According to the International Hydropower Association (IHA), limited access to finance, volatility and governance issues are inhibiting the growth of hydropower on the continent. This session will discuss solutions to overcome the financing barriers to hydropower in Africa. Session focus: • Risk mitigation solutions for hydropower projects • Financing accessibility • Public-Private-Partnerships
Aggregators can facilitate investment and mitigate some of the risks for renewable energy projects. By acting as intermediaries in the market, buying electricity from independent power producers (IPPs) and selling it to multiple consumers, or off-takers, aggregators create wholesale and retail markets for electricity and reduce the burden for businesses in terms of entering into long-term offtake agreements with IPPs. This session will define the role of aggregators in driving renewable energy investments in Africa.
About $50 billion in grid infrastructure investments is required annually for Africa to meet its target for universal energy access by 2030. To unlock the finance for grid expansion, Africa must shift beyond dependence on limited public capital and attract private financing. This session will explore potential models for private investment in grid infrastructure including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
With their ability to generate and supply power at the same site, Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems will be critical in advancing energy resilience in Africa. Due to their flexibility and scalability, DERs enable consumers to produce electricity for their own consumption and sell excess electricity on the market, creating bidirectional electricity flows. This session will showcase how DERs can help reduce costs for businesses and homes in Africa and boost energy security.
Africa could leverage its vast renewable energy resources to export premium carbon credits to finance renewable energy expansion and energy access. Carbon markets also present opportunities for renewable energy companies to access additional revenue streams and expand their portfolios. This session will highlight the opportunities available to developers and African countries in global carbon markets.
With unpredictable commodity prices and limited mining project lifespans, many mining companies are hesitant to enter into long term renewable energy offtake agreements. This topic delves into the development of more effective offtake models tailored for integrating renewable energy into mining operations. It aims to explore how innovative contractual arrangements, such as power purchase agreements (PPAs) and other offtake structures, can be optimised to ensure reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy supply for mining activities.
As the adoption of electric vehicles increase rapidly on a global scale, Africa is still lagging behind. This session aims to explore how private capital can play a key role in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across Africa by investing in essential charging infrastructure. The session will also explore the challenges of and opportunities for mobilising private sector funds to develop a comprehensive and accessible network of EV charging stations. Key discussions will include innovative financing models, public-private partnerships, regulatory frameworks and incentives that can attract private investment.
As the energy transition advances, supply chains for renewable energy technologies are stretched, and recent geopolitical events have further exacerbated the situation. The global pandemic resulted in multiple-month production halts while major supplier countries went into lockdown, disrupting supply chains and project delivery timelines in the process. This topic explores strategies for building robust and adaptive supply chains to support the global shift towards sustainable energy. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in current supply chains and developing solutions to ensure the continual and efficient delivery of essential materials and technologies for renewable energy projects.
Africa has enormous wind power potential, but the continent is only utilising less than 1% of its wind power capacity. Whilst solar has experienced a steady increase in installations, wind power has been slow to take off. This topic examines the pivotal role of Developmental Finance Institutions (DFIs) in catalyzing the growth of wind power in untapped African markets. It focuses on how DFIs can provide critical funding, reduce investment risks and support capacity-building initiatives to stimulate wind energy projects.
Munyaradzi Jani (Organiser)
+27 87 802 9886
+27 72 251 3733
munya@invest-renewables.africa
Fin Tsono
+27 87 802 9886
Ros Hinccliffe (Head of Operations)
+27 76 212 9387
ros@invest-renewables.africa