Since its creation, the RES4Africa Foundation is committed to actively supporting knowledge transfer as a crucial enabler to accelerate the development of Africa’s green energy sector.
Infrastructure-related initiatives, regulatory frameworks reforms and the adoption of new business formats and practices, despite being central, cannot bring about the continent's energy transition on their own. In fact, such an objective largely depends on a well-built and vibrant human resource, as an indispensable prerequisite for a just and all-encompassing development, economic growth and social cohesion.
Nevertheless, as with any scarce resource, human capital needs to be protected and nurtured. Accordingly, RES4Africa recognizes the inestimable value and pivotal role of a skilled local workforce and a properly supported energy sector expertise to foster the continent's ambitions in pursuit of sustainable development.
Building on its long-stand experience in the capacity building activity carried out through initiatives such as the Advanced Training Course (ATC) and Micro-Grid Academy (MGA) programs, in 2023 RES4Africa is willing to further improve and expand its knowledge dissemination effort exploring new topics and new approaches. Between them, today I have the pleasure to introduce the RES4Africa Knowledge Platform, soon available on the Res4Africa website.
Capitalizing on its partner's diverse expertise, the aim of the RES4Africa Knowledge Platform is to establish an Open Knowledge Hub of technical-functional content covering the crucial aspects connected to the implementation of RE projects in Africa and to support a broader and simpler access to dedicated knowledge on energy transition.
The Platform will offer a set of modules developed in collaboration with RES4Africa members integrating the regulatory, financial and infrastructural aspects connected to the deployment of RE solutions in the continent. The Platform consists of seven thematic areas: Technologies, Policies and Regulations, Access to Market, Permitting, Financing, Operation and Sustainability. For each area, a number of relevant training topics are identified and developed by RES4Africa members in a corresponding module. In addition to representing an Open Knowledge Hub, the Platform's technical-functional contents will be also delivered to on-request professionals of the energy sector, including Energy Ministries, Regulatory Authority, vertically integrated incumbents, Associations and other relevant parties. A number of RES4Africa partners have already contributed to the creation of some modules, such as EDP Renováveis, AFRY Management Consulting, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, RINA, Enel Green Power and Enel Grids and more will be involved in the coming months.
The first module is dedicated to solar PV and in particular to the recent technological improvements. Since the beginning of its recent history, solar PV has always surprised for the ability to improve quickly in competitiveness, efficiency and reliability, allowing outstanding scale-up not so common in the power sector. Nowadays, revolution does not stop and continues in terms of new materials, architectures, design choices, and applications. The module describes with a synthetic and simple approach, particularly fitting for a non-technical audience, the major news of the sector.
As above said, the Platform's purpose is to provide a comprehensive overview of the emerging challenges and opportunities associated to RE technologies implementation in Africa and to back the consolidation of an empowered and self-aware local expertise. Through the contribution and support of its members, the RES4Africa Foundation continues to be at the forefront of the knowledge dissemination activity in the continent, continuing in its ongoing commitment to a prosperous, sustainable and resilient Africa.
Fabrizio Bonemazzi
Training and Capacity Building Area Manager, RES4Africa Foundation
