GSC VIRTUAL FORUM 2020
Enabling a Sustainable Future: the role of solar power in reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals
PLUS: The next destination for solar: Africa market outlook
We are familiar with the enormous importance of solar power in combatting climate change and transitioning to a decarbonized economy in coming decades. But beyond protecting the climate and safeguarding the environment, the trajectory towards solar offers a host of other benefits: solar energy is vital not only for the Planet, but also for People and Prosperity.
The Global Solar Council Virtual Forum is a two-day online event showcasing the enormous potential of solar power to bring about a clean, fair and sustainable future and enable quality employment in all regions of the world, from cities to rural communities. Through a series of virtual sessions, the Global Solar Council will explore the vital contribution that solar photovoltaics (PV) can make – and in many cases is already making – towards achieving the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement and a wide range of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event will offer policy and industry insights into the kind of integrated action that needs to become a common playbook for a decade of action.
As an extension of this theme and in collaboration with SolarPower Europe, the GSC Virtual Forum will take a close look at the state of solar PV in Africa and the outlook for the continent’s key markets, continuing the Global Solar Council’s focus on emerging solar markets in 2020, which has spanned Latin America and South East Asia.
PRESS RELEASE
Solar power lights the way towards the SDGs with broad benefits for green recovery plans
Agenda
All times are Central European Time - CET
DAY 1
Enabling a Sustainable Future: the role of solar power in reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals
14:00
PM
CET
Introduction & moderation
Gianni Chianetta, Chairman, Global Solar Council (GSC)
SESSION ONE
Presentations: the PV industry at the heart of sustainable development and poverty alleviation; solar solutions as drivers of sustainable behaviors & livelihoods
14:05
PM
CET
1. Solar power, job creation & a sustainable value chain
Rabia Ferroukhi, Director of the Knowledge Policy and Finance Centre, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
2. The potential of solar PV and integrated action for sustainable development
Bahareh Seyedi, Senior Sustainable Development Officer, UN Secretariat, Department of Social and Economic Affairs
3. Capacity building and skills for tomorrow’s solar jobs
Dr. Paulette Middleton, Board of Directors Executive Committee, International Solar Energy Society (ISES)
4. The solar-water nexus, awareness & behavior changing
Shannon K. McCarthy, Secretary General, International Desalination Association (IDA)
5. Off-grid solar energy for remote communities
Patrick Tonui, Head of Policy and Regional Strategy, GOGLA
6. Removing obstacles to climate action by consumers and freeing the potential for mass PV adoption
Dr. Stephan Singer, Senior Climate Science and Global Energy Policy Advisor, Climate Action Network International (CAN)
7. Political action towards 100% renewable energy and climate protection
David Wortmann, Head of the Board, Energy Watch Group
16:05
PM
CET
Open discussion and networking
with GSC Board members and participants:
Networking session
DAY 2
Next PV destinations: policies and collaboration for solar success in African markets
14:00
PM
CET
WELCOME
José Donoso, Chair-elect, Global Solar Council (GSC)
SESSION ONE
Policy development for solar PV development in Africa: focus on feed-in tariffs and net metering and microgrids
Moderated by: Máté Heisz, Co-chairman, GSC; Head of International Cooperation, SolarPower Europe
14:05
PM
CET
1. Africa solar market outlook to 2040
Nopenyo Dabla, Programme Officer, Sub-Saharan Africa, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
2. Solar market development in Africa – regulatory experience from a European investor perspective
Robert Wagener, Director International Business Development, ABO Wind (Emerging Markets Workstream of SolarPower Europe)
3. Regional policy spotlights from Centres of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
• Michael Kiza, Programme Management Expert, East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE)
• Bah Saho, Acting Executive Director, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)
• Dr. Maged K. Mahmoud, Acting Executive Director, Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)
4. Decentralized solar energy in Africa
David Lecoque, CEO, Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE)
SESSION TWO
African country focus and roundtable: regional cooperation and the role of a GSC Africa Task Force
Moderated by: Niveshen Govender, Board Director, GSC; Chief Operations Officer, South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA)
15:35
PM
CET
1. Solarize Africa Market Report 2020
David Wedepohl, Managing Director International Affairs, German Solar Association
2. African country markets briefing and roundtable:
• Isaiah D Nyakusendwa, Chairman, REAZ - Renewable Energy Association of Zimbabwe
• Ricardo Costa Pereira, President, AMER - Associação Moçambicana de Energias Renováveis
• Geoffrey Kaila, Chairman, SIAZ - Solar Industry Association of Zambia
• Segun Adaju, President, REAN - Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria
• Enoch Agyepong, Director, REAG - Renewable Energy Association of Ghana
• Prosper Magali, Vice President, TAREA - Tanzania Solar Energy Association
17:00
PM
CET
Final remarks and closing
Gianni Chianetta, Chairman, Global Solar Council (GSC)
Recorded GSC Virtual Forum videos
Here you can watch again the GSC Virtual Forum
Meet the speakers
Click on the photo to see the bio and the presentations
Bahareh Seyedi
Senior Sustainable Development Officer, UN Secretariat, Department of Social and Economic Affairs
David Lecoque
CEO, Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE)
David Wedepohl
Managing Director International Affairs, German Solar Association
Isaiah D Nyakusendwa
Chairman, REAZ – Renewable Energy Association of Zimbabwe
Dr. Maged K. Mahmoud
Acting Executive Director, Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)
Máté Heisz
Co-chairman, GSC; Head of International Cooperation, SolarPower Europe
Michael Kiza
Programme Management Expert, East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE)
Nopenyo Dabla
Programme Officer, Sub-Saharan Africa, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Patrick Tonui
Head of Policy and Regional Strategy, GOGLA
Ricardo Costa Pereira
President, AMER – Associação Moçambicana de Energias Renováveis
Shannon K. McCarthy
Secretary General, International Desalination Association (IDA)
Bah Saho
Acting Executive Director, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)
Dr. Paulette Middleton
Board of Directors Executive Committee, International Solar Energy Society (ISES)
Prosper Magali
Vice President, TAREA – Tanzania Solar Energy Association
Rabia Ferroukhi
Director of the Knowledge Policy and Finance Centre, International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA)
Enoch Agyepong
Director, REAG – Renewable Energy Association of Ghana
Robert Wagener
Director International Business Development, ABO Wind (Emerging Markets Workstream of SolarPower Europe)
Segun Adaju
President, REAN – Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria
Niveshen Govender
Board Director, GSC; Chief Operations Officer, South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA)
Dr. Stephan Singer
Senior Climate Science and Global Energy Policy Advisor, Climate Action Network International (CAN)
David Wortmann
Head of the Board, Energy Watch Group
José Donoso
Chair-elect, Global Solar Council (GSC)
Gianni Chianetta
Chairman, Global Solar Council (GSC)
Geoffrey Kaila
Chairman, SIAZ – Solar Industry Association of Zambia
Register now to attend any of the online sessions
taking place on 27th – 28th October 2020.
The event will be hosted within the Hopin events platform.
Supported by
Media partners
Networking and sponsorship opportunities
The event will be hosted within the Hopin events platform.
See separate presentation for sponsorship opportunities.