A hopeful new generation of clean energy researchers in Africa

Reviewing the feedback from the dynamic scholars who the Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership (TEA-LP) recently supported to attend the Africa International Conference on Clean Energy and Energy Storage (AICCEES) left us feeling one thing: hopeful. A group of 21 passionate and dedicated young people ready to tackle the challenges of clean energy access, have shown the immense potential of the upcoming generation of researchers and practitioners.

“The AICCEES conference has inspired me to be more proactive in driving change within this field, and I look forward to integrating these insights into my future projects and career trajectory.” – Sammy Joel Panwal, National Open University of Nigeria

“Attending the AICCEES conference has taught me that young professionals in the energy sector have a significant role to play in increasing energy access across Africa. The AICCEES has inspired me to continue investing my time in sustainable energy research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The AICCEES has shown me that I don’t need to be older to contribute to sustainable energy access development. I have been motivated that I can make a difference even in my youth days.” – Desire Mussa, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences

The selected attendees (12 in-person, 9 virtually) from various sectors and professions were rigorously selected from 319 applications. Hailing from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Botswana, Ireland, Liberia, and Tanzania, these scholars are affiliated with various universities, research institutions, and private sector companies, which contributed to the diversity of the conference. The AICCEES organising committee stated that: “The diversity of perspectives and innovative solutions presented reaffirmed the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing clean energy and sustainable development across the continent and the world.” 

The conference was facilitated by Tovero Energy and hosted by TEA-LP partner, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and was a resounding success. With the intention of bridging the gap between academia and industry, the conference hosted industry leaders, experts, researchers, government agencies, regulators, multilateral organizations, industry bodies, and more in the field of clean energy and energy storage.

Veronica Akpasoh from the AICCEES 2024 Organizing Committee, shared that: “AICCESS 2024 combined exhibitions, networking, and electric cooking demonstrations to create a new formidable platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation in clean energy and sustainable cooking.”

We asked the attendees what they thought the most innovative technology was that they were exposed to at the conference. Mourice Kausya from Kenyatta University shared that: “The presentation on the direct use application of geothermal energy stood out to me. Coming from Kenya, a country rich in geothermal resources…. Our geothermal energy is primarily used for electricity generation in large power plants, but many neighbouring communities, often pastoral and without access to electricity, do not benefit directly from these resources. This innovative approach, which includes applications such as egg incubation, presents an opportunity to expand the direct use of geothermal energy in ways that can truly benefit these communities. For instance, small-scale geothermal projects could generate electricity for local use, offering an off-grid solution to connect remote communities. Additionally, geothermal energy could be harnessed to support greenhouse farming, which would help improve food security in these arid regions of the Rift Valley. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for these communities by providing suitable sustainable energy.” 

A highlight was the talk delivered by Prof Foluke on waste management which several students mentioned. G. Plason Z. Plakar described it as: “… particularly engaging and informative because Africa remains a hub for abundance of energy resources, which are termed as wastes. The speaker’s passion and expertise made the topic accessible and enjoyable. I learned a great deal from this presentation and believe it will be valuable in my future work.”

It is incredibly inspiring for us at the TEA-LP to see expertise in energy access being cultivated in Africa and see students excited and engaged with the sector. Mourice Kausya shared that: “I have learnt that Africa has the potential to improve energy access using African expertise. The AICCEES has taught me that through networking and collaboration with sustainable energy professionals (students, young professionals, and senior professionals), Africa can solve problems in energy, health, agriculture, water, tourism, and other socio-economic-oriented sectors across Africa.” And Cyril Praise from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife told us that: “The conference reaffirmed my commitment to addressing energy accessibility challenges in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas, where clean energy solutions can significantly improve the quality of life… I feel motivated to continue the path of finding renewable energy solutions for my country, Nigeria, and beyond. This conference has taught me that networking with like-minded professionals can open endless opportunities that can lead to innovative solutions and personal growth.”

The students had the opportunity to present their research and gain valuable feedback. Isaac Kerina from Strathmore University described his experience of delivering his research where he was: “…motivated that there are many other professionals in the industry working to solve similar problems that I am working on. The questions that followed my presentation were engaging and detailed, this gave me the confirmation that my work is relevant and will help other professionals in the industry to solve real world problems.”

The students also reflected on what attending the conference taught them about themselves, their future career paths and academic goals:

“Attending AICCEES has reaffirmed my passion for clean energy research and scale-up for commercialization. The opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and experts in the field has inspired me to pursue a career in bioenergy (hydrogen) and Photovoltaics. My skills and knowledge are well-suited for this field, and I have the potential to make a significant contribution. The conference has also helped me identify specific areas of expertise that I would like to develop further.” – G. Plason Z. Plakar, Africa Center of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems, Federal University of Technology Owerri

“Attending the AICCEES conference profoundly shaped my understanding of my role in the clean energy sector and reaffirmed my career goals. With my background in economics, I often questioned my fit within the clean energy field, wondering if I should shift back to a more traditional economic focus. However, the insights gained from the conference clarified that I truly belong in clean energy. I realised that I don’t need to be an engineer or have a technical background in energy systems to make a meaningful impact in this critical sector. Clean energy is multifaceted, and my economics expertise positions me well to contribute… As my career has evolved, particularly through my work on electric cooking, off-grid energy access, and sustainability projects, I have become increasingly drawn to the intricate connections between economic development, clean energy access, climate change, environmental sustainability, and social inclusivity. This experience has solidified my commitment to focusing my career and academic pursuits on clean energy and inclusive, sustainable development.” – Mourice Kausya, Kenyatta University

“The insights from the conference have provided me with a broader perspective on the role of sustainable energy in improving health outcomes, especially for vulnerable communities in Nigeria. First, I intend to apply the lessons learned to my ongoing research on energy poverty and its health implications, specifically by exploring cleaner energy alternatives for households and businesses. Second, I will use the professional relationships I established during the conference to foster collaborative projects, particularly those focused on bridging the gap between public health and energy access. This aligns with my long-term goal of contributing to policies that promote clean energy solutions to reduce environmental health risks. Finally, I plan to actively advocate for sustainable energy transitions in my role as a public health expert, using this platform to raise awareness about the health and socio-economic benefits of clean energy adoption.” – Sammy Joel Panwal, National Open University of Nigeria

Veronica shared her thanks with the TEA-LP stating: “On behalf of the AICCEES 2024 organizing committee, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable support that the Transforming Energy Access Learning Partnership (TEA-LP) provided for the 2024 AICCEES conference. For Africa to lead the clean energy transition on the continent, the gap between research and practice must be bridged. The Africa International Conference on Clean Energy and Energy Storage (AICCEES) is an event that brings together regulators, policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers in the clean energy industry to cross-share knowledge and research findings, thereby bridging the gap between research and practice. It was heartwarming to listen to brilliant research and innovative findings from researchers across Africa, and we are confident that future editions will consolidate on the gains of the first two to further support Africa’s clean energy transition.

The TEA-LP scholarship support played a significant role in shaping the success of the event by enabling students and researchers from across the continent to participate both in-person and virtually. This diversity enriched the quality of engagement and strengthened our collaborative vision for Africa’s clean energy future. Additionally, TEA-LP’s backing of research paper publication in Scopus-indexed journals helped elevate the academic quality of the conference, providing participants with a global platform to share their work. A testament to TEA-LP’s impactful support is the fact that both the Best Presenter and Best Research Paper awards went to beneficiaries of the Travel Scholarship. Their outstanding contributions highlighted the immense value of TEA-LP’s commitment to supporting talented researchers across Africa.”

Congratulations to the following scholars on the awards:

– Best research paper award was given to Iwundu Chukwudi Paschal, for his research paper titled: Modelling and Optimization of Hybrid Photovoltaic-Wind Turbine with Energy Storage System for Autonomous Electricity Generation

– Best presenter award was given to Dominic Kata, for his research paper presentation on Harnessing Geothermal Energy for Decarbonization and Sustainable Agricultural Development Using Geotto (Geotto is an innovation proposed by the researcher using Geothermal energy, with opportunities for scaling-up)

We look forward to following this group of inspiring scholars as they forge their careers in sustainable energy access.