The SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) will launch the annual SADC Sustainable Energy Week from 24 to 28 February, marking a significant milestone in the region’s energy landscape.
The inaugural Southern African Development Community (SADC) Sustainable Energy Week, to be held in Gaborone, Botswana, was initially planned to take place from 2 to 6 December, 2024, but was postponed due to due to unforeseen circumstances.
Under the theme ‘Accelerating Sustainable Energy Solutions for an Energy Secure SADC Region,’ the event will highlight SADC’s commitment to promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency to enhance energy access and security across the region’s member states.
Recognising the dynamic development within the energy sector of SADC member states, this event aims to address the evolving regulatory, policy, and institutional frameworks while fostering growth and investment, particularly in sustainable energy.
The energy demand in the region is growing rapidly, but challenges persist, including limited energy access averaging 50%, a constrained electricity supply system, and ongoing power shortages due to inadequate generation with a capacity shortfall amounting to 3,681MW in April 2024 as well as transmission capacity bottlenecks.
Additionally, the sector remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels and drought susceptible hydro-power. The SADC member states are committed to accelerate the implementation of the Regional Priority Power Projects aimed at meeting energy security requirements and enhancing intra-regional power trading in the SADC region, leading to adequate, reliable and sustainable power being available to all customers at reasonable costs.
The event will bring together government ministries, policymakers, utilities, regulators, private sector investors, developers, researchers, and financiers. International Cooperating Partners, non-governmental organisations, civil society, industry associations, think tanks, and academia will also be present.
SACREEE invites all stakeholders to join them in this transformative event and contribute to advancing the sustainable energy agenda, ensuring a more secure and sustainable energy future for the SADC region.
The programme includes a high-level plenary, presentations, breakout sessions, focusing on critical areas such as policy and regulatory frameworks, financing mechanisms, grid integration, youth, gender, entrepreneurship, and innovative technologies as well as technical site visits.
The SADC Sustainable Energy Week is jointly organised in partnership with International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)’s 6th International Off-grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC), the 8th Southern African Solar Thermal Training & Demonstration Initiative (SOLTRAIN) Regional Conference, and an event by the Global Network of Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC) coordinated by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
For more information and to explore opportunities for sponsorship and exhibition, please contact SACREEE at sadcsew@sacreee.org (www.sacreee.org).
