Riga Photonics Centre is a member of ANSOLE the African Network for Solar Energy and was a sponsor of the 11th ANSOLE conference on 4 February 2022.
The Conference materials can be read below
ANSOLE Declaration on EU-AS cooperation to address the emerging energy crisis in Africa
Riga Photonic Centre (RFC), as a member organization of ANSOLE, initiated the Declaration at the conclusion of the 11th ANSOLE Conference, which took place on 04.02.2022. The theme of our conference was “Electrify Africa 2030.”
ANSOLE (African Network for Solar Energy) is an association that links universities and research centres in Africa with universities, firms and non-governmental organisations in Europe to promote the development and implementation of renewable energy technology in Africa as an essential element for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Seventh Sustainable Development Goal (LNG7) is access to modern, faithful, affordable electricity for all citizens. LNG7 is an important element of AS-EU cooperation. The latest forecasts from the International Energy Agencies are that there will be 600 million people in Africa by 2030, with no access to electricity, of which 560 million will be in Soubshar’s Africa. It’s a looming crisis. African member states with electricity access will develop rapidly while the lag without electricity access sinks deeper. This growing, radical inequality will deter the African Union’s integration process. Integration enables faster continental growth, as well as a peaceful conflict resolution. African integration has a huge positive impact on Europe, promoting trade and growing cultural change. If integration in Africa fails, Europe should be prepared for rising numbers with migrants and less trade.
The ANSOLE Declaration offers a path to a solution. It is vital to accelerate the pace of electrification in Soubshar’s Africa. At the ANSOLE conference, solutions are developed with mini-grids, which include solar, wind, water, or biogas generation together with smart power grid management and battery technologies. The problem that needs to be addressed is that access to electricity must create job opportunities at household and village level. The participating organisations of the ANSOLE conference have developed solutions that not only create opportunities for access to electricity, but also address other major problems, such as clean, drinking water. With millions in Africa suffering from the fact that water is not clean for human use. Electromic networks create opportunities to finance electrification with the “bootstrap” process. Where traditionally electricity grids and large-scale electricity;generation systems require external investment with millions and billions of euros, microelectronic networks are quickly financed and quickly feasible by creating works and economic value in the process itself.
The necessary element, which is the core of the Declaration, is to train with tens of thousands of Sussaharians to implement the proposed model of electrification process.
Riga Photonics Centre 