THEME: Financing the Future, Accelerating Bankable Renewables in Africa

Exciting 2-day programme

ARIS returns for the 4th Edition on 1-2 September 2025, with a sharper focus on investment-driven dialogue, and high-impact opportunities across Africa’s renewables landscape.

Book Tickets

Conference Schedule

07:30 - 08:30
CTICC

Registration - Day One

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.

09:00 - 09:45
CTICC 2

Opening Keynote Addresses (African Union & South Africa)

Opening keynote address by the AU followed by the Minister of Energy/Electricity of Republic of South Africa

09:45 - 10:30
CTICC

Unlocking Bankability: Fast-Tracking Africa’s Green Hydrogen Projects to Financial Close

Africa’s green hydrogen potential remains trapped in pilot purgatory—no projects have reached financial close, despite growing global interest. Why the stall? This session cuts through the hype, exploring how developers, governments, and financiers can align to de-risk projects, secure long-term off-takers, and craft structures that attract serious capital. From innovative financing models to enabling policy frameworks, industry leaders will share practical insights to transform Africa’s hydrogen pipeline from PowerPoints into bankable, investable infrastructure.

11:00 - 11:45
CTICC

Innovative Financing Structures and Risk Mitigation Tools for Scaling Renewable Energy in Africa

Access to affordable finance remains one of the biggest barriers to scaling renewable energy across Africa. This session explores cutting-edge financial instruments, blended finance models, and de-risking mechanisms that are unlocking capital for clean energy projects. Experts from development finance institutions, private equity, insurance, and project development will discuss how tools like credit guarantees, local currency financing, and political risk insurance can lower the cost of capital and attract investment at scale.

11:45 - 12:30
CTICC

C&I Renewables in Africa: Unlocking Opportunities for Investors and Developers

Africa’s commercial and industrial (C&I) renewables market is fast becoming a compelling asset class, driven by rising energy costs, unreliable grids, and demand for cleaner power from corporate offtakers. This session explores how investors and developers are capitalizing on this opportunity through innovative financing models, long-term PPAs, and scalable solar-plus-storage solutions. Industry leaders will examine what it takes to structure bankable projects, assess credit risk, and build investable portfolios in one of the continent’s most dynamic energy segments.

14:00 - 14:45
CTICC

Charging Africa’s Battery Ecosystem: Investment Pathways from Utility-Scale to Decentralised Storage

As Africa scales up renewable energy deployment, battery storage is emerging as a critical enabler—from stabilising national grids to powering commercial facilities and off-grid communities. This session explores the evolving battery storage landscape across the continent, spotlighting the diverse investment opportunities in both large-scale grid connected systems and decentralised, behind-the-meter solutions. Experts will discuss the financing structures, risk sharing mechanisms, and policy innovations needed to unlock capital at every level of the battery ecosystem.

14:45 - 15:30
CTICC

Beyond Access: Designing Mini Grids for Economic Growth and Long-Term Viability

The next phase of mini grid deployment in Africa must go beyond powering homes — it must power livelihoods. This session will explore how mini grid developers, financiers, and governments are embedding productive use of energy, local enterprise development, and innovative business models into project design to ensure long-term viability. With insights from operators, DFIs, and policymakers, the discussion will focus on how to align tariffs, demand stimulation, and cross sector partnerships to create mini grids that drive inclusive economic growth while delivering sustainable returns.

16:00 - 16:45
CTICC

Hydropower Reinvented: Modernizing Africa’s hydro Assets Through Innovative Financing

As Africa accelerates its transition to a low-carbon energy future, hydropower is being reimagined for climate resilience, sustainability, and scalable impact. This session will explore how green finance mechanisms, including green bonds, climate risk mitigation tools, and ESG-focused funds, are enabling the next generation of hydropower projects across Africa. Panelists will discuss how hydropower can be designed and financed to meet the dual challenges of addressing growing energy demand and adapting to climate change. The session will also examine how new technologies, hybrid systems, and financing structures are helping to de risk hydropower investments and unlock capital for large scale, climate-smart hydro projects.

16:30 - 17:00
CTICC

End of Day One

07:30 - 09:00

Day Two Opening Ceremony

Hearing from one of ARIS Premiums Sponsors.

09:05 - 10:00
CTICC

Aggregators as Market Makers: Driving Bankability and Scale in Africa’s Liberalising Power Markets

As Africa's energy markets liberalize, aggregators are bridging renewable supply and industrial demand by pooling demand from mines, factories, and cities—unlocking scale, cutting costs, and de-risking investments in wind, solar, and storage. This session examines how aggregators enable bankable renewables through virtual power plants (VPPs), accelerate industrial decarbonization, attract private capital via blended finance and corporate PPAs, and shape policies for open access and wheeling. Explore how aggregation can fast-track Africa’s energy transition while ensuring affordability and reliability.

10:00 - 10:45
CTICC

Grid Investment 2.0: Mobilising Private Capital for Africa’s Transmission Transformation

Africa’s energy transition cannot advance at scale without modern, interconnected grid infrastructure—yet underinvestment in transmission remains a critical bottleneck. With public budgets under strain, private capital is increasingly essential to bridge the financing gap. This session explores emerging solutions, from innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to the $1.3 billion Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) aimed at accelerating cross-border interconnectors in Southern Africa. Key themes include de-risking strategies to unlock institutional investment, regulatory enablers for bankable transmission projects, and lessons from global grid-financing successes that Africa can adapt.

11:15 - 12:00
CTICC

DERs as Grid Game-Changers: Rewriting Africa’s Energy Rulebook

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are no longer on the sidelines—they are redefining how power systems operate across Africa. As utilities confront ageing infrastructure, rising demand, and supply gaps, DERs offer a flexible, scalable path forward. This session explores how DERs—ranging from rooftop solar and battery storage to flexible load management—are shifting market dynamics, challenging legacy grid models, and unlocking new value streams for utilities, regulators, and investors. Discussions will highlight emerging regulatory reforms, grid-integration innovations, and business models that position DERs at the heart of Africa’s energy transition.

14:00 - 14:45
CTICC

From Diesel to Decarbonized: The Business Case for Renewables in African Mining

Africa’s mining sector is at an energy crossroads. With diesel costs soaring, ESG pressures intensifying, and unreliable grid access threatening productivity, renewables offer a lifeline. But how can mines transition at scale—and profitably? This session explores the evolving business case for solar, wind, and battery storage in mining, highlighting how these technologies are cutting energy costs, reducing emissions, and boosting energy resilience across Africa’s mining landscapes. Experts will unpack practical financing models—from PPAs and embedded generation to hybrid ownership structures—as well as the regulatory shifts and strategic partnerships driving adoption. From majors to mid-tier players, this session offers a roadmap for renewables can enable mining companies to decarbonize and stay competitive.

14:45 - 15:30
CTICC

Beyond the Gusts: Making Africa’s Wind Power Bankable Through Policy Innovation and Scalable Projects

Africa’s wind power potential is vast, but the path from resource to reality remains turbulent. Despite a pipeline exceeding 80 GW, only a small fraction has materialized—due largely to unbankable project structures, regulatory uncertainty, and limited grid infrastructure. This session explores how the continent can shift from promise to progress by making wind energy truly investable. Experts will unpack policy innovations that accelerate permitting and procurement, showcase scalable project models that attract private capital, and highlight the role of domestic manufacturing and local skills development in reducing project costs and increasing investor confidence. From unlocking concessional finance to strengthening power offtake arrangements, this session offers a blueprint for transforming Africa’s wind into a bankable, deployable energy solution.

16:00 - 16:45
CTICC

Charging Africa's E-Mobility Future: Financing, Infrastructure, and Policy Pathways

Africa’s electric mobility sector is at a tipping point. Soaring fuel costs, booming urban populations, and global decarbonization pressures are driving demand—yet scaling EVs beyond early adopters requires smart capital, adaptive policies, and infrastructure built for African realities. This session cuts through the hype to examine what’s working and where the gaps remain. We will explore why two- and three-wheelers are leading the charge, and how business models like battery-as a-service, leasing, and fleet electrification are unlocking returns on investment. Additionally, we’ll showcase case studies of de-risked investments in charging networks and local assembly and examine the role of policy levers—from Rwanda’s tax incentives to South Africa’s auto industry transition—in inspiring investor confidence. Finally, we’ll discuss how integrating renewable energy, such as solar powered charging and vehicle-to-grid solutions, can boost long-term viability.

16:45 - 17:00
CTICC

Closing Ceremony

2
Exciting Days

When

Monday - Tuesday | 1 - 2 September, 2025

Where

Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)

Who

75+ high-level speakers from around the world

Reach out to us for speaking opportunities

Contact Ros Hinchcliffe, Head of Programme to inquire on speaking opportunities. info@invest-renewables.africa

75
Speakers