The International Renewable Energy Conference opens its doors on December 5, 2018, in Rabat, Morocco. The objective of the meeting is to inform the public about the latest advances in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Morocco. In terms of scientific research, IRSEC-18 will give Moroccan academics the opportunity to collect information that will eventually improve the quality of their work. The conference will also provide researchers in the domain, with a venue to meet international industrialists that will allow them to find opportunities for collaboration in the development of their research projects. The Rabat meeting will also explore advances in the following sectors: solar energy, wind energy, green technologies, energy efficiency, energy storage and smart grids.
Nearly 400 participants from 30 countries are expected to attend the conference. It is organised by the Mediterranean Space of Technology and Innovation (MSTI) in partnership with the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Tetouan. The whole being placed under the high patronage of King Mohamed VI.
The Rabat Conference is being held in a context where renewable energy is booming in Africa. Several countries on the continent are exploiting their energy potential and succeeding in establishing themselves on the international scene. Like Rwanda, which was given 5th place in the ranking of the countries in the world that promote green energy, the most (November 2018). And even more prowess will be needed to close the energy gap in Africa. The African population is estimated at nearly one billion since 2014 and 25% do not yet have access to energy. Yet the continent invests nearly $90 billion each year to solve this energy shortage. Renewable energies therefore seem to be the right solution, while the continent’s population could reach almost 5 billion by 2050. Africa wants to reach 300 GW of green energy capacity by 2030. This objective implies accelerating the current rate of energy production. The sunshine in African countries ranges from 1,750 kWh/m2/year to 2,500 kWh/m2/year and seven of the sunniest countries in the world are African. These include Chad, Egypt and Kenya. In other words, resources are available, they must be exploited… to the full.
Luchelle Feukeng