Welcome & Introduction

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Recording of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | The smarter E Europe | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 5:07 .

Final Session of OffGrid Conference Explores 100% Renewable Opportunities and Challenges in Remote Environments with Experts Lea Dunst, Senator Lisa Cummins, and Gianni Chianetta.

The session is the concluding part of the OffGrid conference, organized by Intersolar and SmarterE, and also serves as an introduction to the OffGrid Power workshop starting tomorrow. Lea Dunst from the German Solar Association moderates this event focusing on "Pioneering 100% renewables: OffGrid opportunities and challenges in island and remote environments." Remote areas face extensive hurdles with high fossil fuel dependency due to exorbitant transportation costs, resulting in steep electricity prices. Notably, some regions like El Hierro use a substantial portion of their electricity for essential services such as water desalination. Despite potential cost advantages of renewable energy (RE), its adoption can be complicated by economic constraints in less prosperous areas or those with poor credit conditions. However, SIDS (Small Island Developing States) remain ambitious about RE targets; Barbados aims for zero emissions by 2030. Senator Lisa Cummins shares insights into these goals while Gianni Chianetta discusses adaptable pathways toward achieving them based on his extensive experience in global renewable energy projects through initiatives like Greening the Islands Foundation.

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Lea Dunst
International Project Manager
BSW - German Solar Association
Germany

Small islands and remote areas contend with heightened costs in energy and its access, water, and waste, exacerbated by climate change. Scaling renewables, creating decentralized smart grids, and integrating storage solutions emerge as pivotal strategies to bolster resilience and spur socio-economic development. Islands and remote areas, serving as testbeds, exemplify the feasibility of decarbonization. This panel discussion provides a platform to delve into these specific insights from islands and remote areas, shedding light on the transformative role of renewables in empowering communities, accelerating transitions, and serving as models for sustainable development.

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Gianni Chianetta
Chair
Greening the Islands Foundation
Italy

To Talk

Speaker

David Wedepohl
Managing Director International Affairs
BSW - German Solar Association
Germany

Michael Schmidt
Deputy Head
UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office Germany
Germany

Daniela Krahl
Senior Policy Officer
BMZ - Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Germany

Lisa R. Cummins
Minister of Energy and Business
Government of Barbados
Barbados

Dr. Hamed Beheshti
Co-founder & CEO
Boreal Light GmbH
Germany

To Talk

To Talk

Speaker

Lea Dunst
International Project Manager
BSW - German Solar Association
Germany

To Talk

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Discover how green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are transforming decentralized energy systems worldwide. This session will be presenting hands-on experience from pioneering projects in Thailand, Ghana, Namibia and South Africa. Find out how solar-powered hydrogen microgrids can replace diesel generators, strengthen energy resilience and enable short- to long-term storage, while supporting environmental and climate goals. Project partners including German SMEs and research institutes, share insights on lessons learned, local benefits and the replication potential of these systems. Selected projects were implemented with the support from the Export Initiative Environmental Protection, a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. 

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