Economics energy team attends International Renewable Energy Conference

Posted on October 20, 2015

Prof Roula Inglesi-Lotz, accompanied by her two PhD students Mrs Jessika Bohlmann and Mrs Amandine Nakumuryango, as well as Dr Heinrich Bohlmann, all from the Department of Economics in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, attended the South African International Renewable Conference 2015 (Sairec) from 4 to 7 October 2015 in Cape Town.

Hosted by the national Department of Energy together with the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) and convened by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), SAIREC 2015 was the first of its kind on African soil, sixth of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) series.

With the theme ‘RE-energising Africa', the conference attracted more than 3 000 delegates from all over the world and all spheres of the energy sector: government ministers, high-level decision makes, experts, specialists and thought leaders, as well as private sector players, civil society and academia. The delegates engaged in discussions and shared experiences and thoughts on the future of renewable energies. High on the discussion agenda was the role that the African continent is capable of playing as a business destination for the sector, given its current growth paths and how clean energy is needed to promote sustainable economic growth.

The team’s research will be positively influenced after all the interactions and interesting discussions with various stakeholders. The interconnection between industrial applications and academic research will provide outputs with higher relevance for the continent’s and country’s energy sector, making the research current, topical and relevant to policy making.

The students also,expressed their views on the experience:

Mrs Nakumuryango: “Sairec 2015 emphasised that climate change is a matter of concern and a transition to renewable energy is imperative. Cultural attitude, bureaucratic regimes, administrative structures ad insufficient funds are the main barriers for renewable energy projects in Africa. Sairec 2015 again pinpointed the major need of increasing awareness and education on climate change in Africa.”

Mrs Bohlmann: “The importance of renewable energy in moving towards a better, more efficient energy sector that opens opportunities to improve energy access, reduce CO2 emissions and promote economic growth, development and sustainability was highlighted throughout the conference. I had the opportunity to hear about the latest improvements in renewable energy, the decline in its production cost and its ability to improve energy access directly from people that is involved in the industry, such as Eskom, the CSIR, and REN21.”

Attending the Opening ceremony where the South African Minister of Energy addressed the conference 
From left to right: Dr H Bohlmann, Ms J Bohlmann, Prof R Inglesi-Lotz and Ms A Nakumuryango. 

 

- Author Department of Economics

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