International Renewable Energy Conference - Call for Papers

The International Renewable Energy Conference is a consequence of research on "Southern African Sustainable Energy Initiative" funded by the ACP-EU Cooperation program and being collaboratively undertaken by three Southern African partner universities - the University of Botswana, National University of Lesotho, Namibia University of Science and Technology and the Hochschule Darmstadt University which is based in Germany.

 The overall objective of the research is to enhance the institutional, human and systems development capacity of the consortium of regional universities in the area of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The specific objectives of the conference are:

i. To provide a regional platform for knowledge sharing, and thereby integrate and co-ordinate initiatives in the field of sustainable energy

ii. To provide an innovative services and product platform that will raise awareness and provide sound research support to a broad range of stakeholders in view of ensuring participation and ownership of interventions and implementation.

Following a big success of the International Renewable Energy Symposium held in Windhoek in October 2015, the University of Botswana, through its Centre for Clean Energy housed in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, will host the first International Renewable Energy Conference in Botswana from 26th to 28th October 2016 at GICC. The conference theme is "Renewable Energy Applications for Sustainable Development".

You are invited to submit papers to the following topics:

1. Options for increasing Energy Access Worldwide

2. Renewable Energy Resources Availability, Technologies and Environment

3. Trends and developments in Energy Efficiency and Technology

4. Stand-alone and Grid Connected Solar PV power systems –Enhancing Rapid Deployment

5. Renewable Energy Technologies for Electrical and Mechanical Power

6. Renewable Energy Technologies for Thermal Applications

7. Training and Capacity Building for renewable energy and Energy Efficiency

8. Energy Economics and Financing of Renewable Energy Technologies

9. Policy and Regulatory Environment for Improved Sustainable Energy Access

Deadline: 15 July 2016

POWER PEOPLE PLANET : Seizing Africa’s energy and climate opportunities

For Sub-Saharan Africa, 2015 is a turning point. The summits on sustainable development, financing and climate change are swinging the spotlight not only onto Africa’s needs to accelerate development and adapt to global warming, but also onto the region’s urgent energy crisis. Two in three Africans lack access to electricity.

But this crisis is also a moment of great opportunity, as we demonstrate in the Africa Progress Report 2015, Power People Planet: Seizing Africa’s Energy and Climate Opportunities. Demand for modern energy is set to surge, fuelled by economic growth, demographic change and urbanisation. As the costs of low-carbon energy fall, Africa could leapfrog into a new era of power generation. Utility reform, new technologies and new business models could be as transformative in energy as the mobile phone has been in telecommunications.

Renewable energy is at the forefront of the changes sweeping Africa, which is registering some of the most remarkable advances in solar, geothermal and wind power. With world leaders due to meet in Paris in December to settle on a new global climate change deal, Africa has a chance to show the way to a low-carbon future – while putting in place the policies needed to reduce its vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

A “triple win” is within the region’s grasp, as renewable technologies create opportunities to increase agricultural productivity, improve resilience to climate change, and contribute to long-term reductions in dangerous carbon emissions.

The Africa Progress Report 2015 explains the bold steps that leaders globally and in Africa must take to achieve this vision. Above all, the report shows that the global climate moment is also Africa’s moment – Africa’s moment to lead the world.

Access the full report @  http://app-cdn.acwupload.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/APP_REPORT_2015_FINAL_low1.pdf