Renewable alternative energy solutions promoter the Southern African Alternative Energy Association (SAAEA) will chair a debate on renewable-energy storage at this year’s Power-Gen Africa (PGA) event, which will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from July 15 to 17.

SAAEA energy expert David Lipschitz tells Engineering News that the debate is important, as renewable-energy storage is a prime concern for renewable- energy grids in terms of ensuring continuous energy availability.

He states that SAAEA has decided to take part in PGA every year because renewable energy is of interest to the association, adding that the SAAEA chaired a debate on renewable-energy grid integration last year.

Renewable-energy grids are a combination of several different components, and all of them are important, says Lipschitz, noting that these components include solar, wind, hydro, bio- energy, storage and intelligent grid management.

“We find attending PGA useful, as it looks at the state-of-the-art technology in all these segments and keeps stakeholders up to date.”

He adds that many of the speakers at the event are top experts in their fields, stating that PGA creates an opportunity for SAAEA to interact with them.

Lipschitz says the SAAEA tries to send someone to every event to which it is invited so that the association can stay abreast of the latest developments in renewable energy.

“Therefore, we are happy that the organisers of PGA have asked us to participate, since this will enable us to get up to date information firsthand.”

He adds that the association wants to leave its mark at this year’s event.

“People sometimes ask us to attend events, even if we do not present or chair debates, as we ask good questions and get the debate going,” he says, adding that attending PGA is also an opportunity for the SAAEA to be in the conference book, which promotes the association and its work.

Boosting Africa’s Power Sector
Lipschitz tells Engineering News that events such as PGA assist with the growth of the power and electricity sector in Africa through the introduction of new ideas and the latest technologies.

“Although there are many energy conferences these days, they are essential, as there are many different players in the markets, there is rapid growth in the energy sector and there are many changes. “It is essential that these conferences are held in Africa as Africa is generally energy poor,” he says.

He adds that anything that helps to alleviate this ‘energy poverty, in a sustainable way that gets communities working’ while keeping ‘the environment pristine’ is worthwhile as Africa moves deeper into the twenty-first century with its many challenges. Lipschitz says one such challenge is the high cost of fossil fuel-based energy – in terms of not only monetary but also environmental costs.