Africa has a huge untapped solar potential, and at the same time, the importance of off-grid solar power supply and applications is significant on a continent where electrification is still a major challenge for states and governments. At the same time, decentralized solar power generation can contribute not only to electricity supply, but also to addressing other critical development issues. The integrated solar water desalination project at Lodwar Hospital in Kenya, implemented by Boreal Light GmbH and supported by the German Development Cooperation through the develoPPP.de program, is a flagship project that contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals.

Timeline:

• 07:34 Which Sustainable Development Goals are addressed within the project?
• 12:36 Where does the water for this project come from? And how, in general, do you guarantee water supply for solar water desalination in areas distant from resources or the ocean?
• 15:50 What contribution can solar water desalination make for food security in Africa?
• 17:02 Where do you see the main challenges and obstacles for this solution?
• 21:38 What is the advantage of small scale off-grid solutions in Africa in comparison to centralized approaches?

About The smarter E Podcast

The smarter E podcast is all about the current trends and developments in a renewable, decentralized and digital energy industry. Our moderators Tobias Bücklein and Zackes Brustik welcome and interview personalities who shape our industry and drive developments forward. A new episode is published every Thursday.

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About Dr. Hamed Beheshti and Boreal Light

Dr. Hamed Beheshti, Co-Founder and CEO of Boreal Light GmbH. Dr. Beheshti holds a Ph.D. in Renewable Energy Policy Planning and has been a leading force at Boreal Light GmbH for more than 9 years. Boreal Light GmbH is a young Berlin-based company specializing in renewable energy solutions for water treatment plants.

About Ahmad Sandid and Business Scouts for Development

Mr. Ahmad Sandid is a Business Scout for Development at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). He holds an M.Sc. in Economics and has been working for more than 7 years as a development cooperation consultant for the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) and the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar).

With the Business Scouts for Development, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) provides companies in Germany and abroad with development policy experts.

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