Next week’s African Utility Week expo in Cape Town boasts a strong international flavour hosting suppliers from the world’s energy-conscious nations, with pavilions from the likes of Germany, India, Italy, Norway, South Korea and the US focused on, among others, generation, metering, smart grids, water and renewable energy.

The Department of Energy recently approved 13 new renewable independent power-producer bids, with Norwegian solar company Scatec Solar one of the successful companies and part of the Norwegian pavilion.

“The clean tech sector is an important sector for Norway and we are currently strategising on how best to develop this and attract more Norwegian companies to the African continent," says Royal Norwegian Embassy and Director of Innovation Norway in South Africa commercial counsellor Siw Heggedal Longvastøl. “We have six companies participating – all from various sectors, namely solar, hydro and water.  Our message is that Norwegian competence can add value to the African continent.”

“Africa is a very strong growing market and German companies see high potential there,” says German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy consultant Dr Konrad Bauer, who will be manning the German country pavilion at the African Utility Week expo.

He adds that Germany wants to bring information about new and sustainable technology in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy. "We also have German companies with us that would like to enter the market and cooperate with local companies, multipliers and decision-makers. We want to be in your market, we are open for cooperation and we would like to contribute to the development of the local utility market to have a safe and sustainable energy supply for the future in South Africa.”

CPD-ACCREDITED WORKSHOPS
The event again features practical solutions for energy efficiency and maintenance for utilities and large power users and also brings many international experts and speakers to share their experience with the continent’s power and water industries. The fifteenth edition of the annual conference and exhibition at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from May 12 to 14 is set to turn Cape Town into the country’s “energy capital” again with more than 5 000 attendees and more than 250 exhibitors with the latest technology, solutions and services, as well as free technical workshops.

The 60 free, continuing professional development-accredited workshops are presented by:
• SARETEC: Renewables (including energy storage, solar maps and small-scale energy);
• SAIEE: Electrical Engineering/Metering (including consumption data into Swift, smart-metering standards);
• SAEE: Energy and Water Efficiency (including measurement and verification, energy security initiatives, water and energy saving solutions);
• SAAMA: Maintenance (including new inspection tools, asset management strategies, operational maintenance solutionsa and effective fault identification).
Attending the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa exhibition is free when registering in advance at www.african-utility-week.com.