The International Solar Energy Society (ISES) will meet to discuss Africa’s renewable energy potential at its Solar World Congress in Johannesburg, South Africa in October.
ISES Solar World Congress 2009 chairperson Jon Adams says that Africa is “a sleeping giant” that has the potential to be one of the largest global consumers of renewable energy. However, owing to the poor financial positions of many African countries and the lack of legislation to entrench a renewable-energy culture in those countries, many African countries have failed to reach their renewable-energy potential.
“The focus of the conference will be the role that energy can play in creating a sustainable future for rural communities,” he said.
Adams continued by saying that the responsibility to resolve these issues lies with governments, and that South Africa’s establishment of a renewable-energy feed-in tariff (Refit) program to kick-start the country’s renewable-energy sector is encouraging.
However, he says there are problems on the horizon. “The fact that photovoltaic energy is excluded from the proposed Refit program is disappointing as the country has a great potential in that energy sector. I also feel that the South African target of 3% renewable- energy consumption by 2013 lacks ambition. If the right steps and processes are implemented, then South Africa can achieve a renewable-energy consumption target of 15% by 2015.”