Focusing on innovation and sustainability as an engine of development for the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa - a challenge to overcome. This is what emerged this morning at the annual conference of RES4MED - Renewable Energy Solutions for the Mediterranean, a non-profit association founded in 2012 to promote the development of renewables and green tech.
Renewable energies in Africa will keep growing
Francesco Starace, Enel CEO
Taking place at the Enel Auditorium, the event was attended by Francesco Starace, the Group’s CEO, who underlined the need to carry out projects to bring electricity to hundreds of millions of Africans. "Renewable energies in Africa will keep growing," Starace said, pointing out that in the 2012-2016 period worldwide RES capacity increased by 40%, mostly thanks to wind & solar. Nevertheless, several obstacles still remain: there is a shortage of networks and interconnections between countries and local incumbents are slowing down the development of renewable energies through regulatory constraints and political and social criticisms - factors that make things harder in Africa. These difficulties, however, can be overcome. According to Francesco Starace it will take time, but "it will be increasingly easier to live and work" in those areas.
Governments know they are cheaper and can be easily installed without consequences and that they even contribute to helping populations
Francesco Starace, Enel CEO
The future of Africa is, therefore, about renewables and sustainability: "Governments know they are cheaper and can be easily installed without consequences and that they even contribute to helping populations," Starace said, highlighting how crucial it is to guarantee energy access to everyone in order to improve both the economic and social environment as well as quality of life. These values form the basis of the commitment of Enel Group, which has already completed several projects and continues to work in this direction.
Enel editorial staff