Algeria to host first Africa-EU symposium on renewable energy

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The Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP) the Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES), and University of Belkaïd Abou Bekr Tlemcen are jointly organising the symposium. African and European experts, public sector representatives, business associations and NGOs will travel to Algeria to attend the event, which will be hosted at the University Abou Bekr Belkaid.

Building local capacities and promoting applied research are essential pillars in the development, promotion, and dissemination of renewable energies in Africa. However, while an increasing number of academic institutions in Africa are dedicated to renewable energy research, the exposure to the international scientific community, as well as access to available support mechanisms and funds remain limited.

Academic networking

"We hope that the research symposium will help foster research dialogue between African and European renewable energy experts, promote Africa-EU academic networking and research cooperation and share information on available research platforms and funds," Niklas Hayek, project manager at EUEI PDF, commented.

Topics to be discussed at the event include, among others: enabling policies to promote renewable energies; financial mechanisms to extend penetration of renewable energies; promoting energy-efficient attitudes among the general public; and energy technology for water purification and food cooking.

"Africa has the potential to be a leader in renewable energy. This event will increase connections between its research community and the global renewable energy community. We believe that this symposium will lead to joint research projects between European and African institutions, projects which will provide an essential link between research and market needs, and concretise useful research for sustainable development that will create new business start-ups and employment," said prof Mustapha Djafour, rector of the University of Tlemcen.