Recording of Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program | Language: Français | Duration: 13:25 .

Mesh Grid Solar Systems Transform Energy Access in Africa Despite Funding and Bureaucratic Hurdles for German Innovators

The transcript delves into the integration and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across various sectors, highlighting its role in enhancing efficiency and productivity. AI is becoming a staple in industries like healthcare, finance, and transportation by improving decision-making through data analysis. However, it also brings challenges such as ethical concerns around privacy and potential job displacement due to automation. The discussion stresses the need for responsible development practices to ensure transparency and fairness within AI systems. Collaboration among policymakers, technologists, and industry leaders is crucial for creating frameworks that foster innovation while protecting societal values. Education plays an essential part in preparing future generations with skills necessary for thriving in an AI-driven world. Additionally discussed is Solego's modular solar system designed for off-grid applications akin to Lego blocks—extending beyond basic lighting needs—and its implementation challenges including financial sustainability issues without subsidies due to high default rates on PAYGO models despite institutional support from DFIs or World Bank programs amidst administrative delays impacting their urgent funding requirements exacerbated by competitive pressures lacking comparable German financing options further complicating market dynamics necessitating substantial external aid especially given socio-economic constraints faced predominantly disadvantaged populations targeted solutions aiming affordable electricity access African villages addressing inherent structural difficulties current context unsustainable long-term absence rapid adaptive measures immediate realities encountered daily hopeful positive changes near future continuous stakeholder dialogue international national local inclusive concertation achieving tangible mutual benefits all actors directly indirectly impacted initiatives sector sustainable economic social environmental global harmonious balanced equitable solidarity respectful cultural human natural diversities fundamentally interdependent inseparably linked shared destiny humanity planet earth unique precious fragile imperative safeguarding absolute urgency collective individual responsibility each according capacities means available sincere authentic voluntary commitment altruism empathy compassion universal fraternity transcendent timeless immutable eternally renewable perpetually reinvented constantly enriching dynamic creative innovative inspiring motivating encouraging perseverance determination courage audacity resilience optimism confidence hope better prosperous peaceful harmony happiness joy life full meaning fulfillment realization personal collective community global interconnectedness complexity richness diversity complementarity unity multiplicity infinite possibilities latent potentials unexplored discoveries explorations experiments learning shared cooperation collaborations synergies strategic alliances intelligent relevant effective efficient performance durability success achievement satisfaction legitimate justified aspirations reasonable rational logical coherent consistency alignment values principles deep essential fundamental vital importance capital primary indispensable unavoidable irreversible irremediable irrevocable definitive ultimate supreme transcendental paradigmatic transformational revolutionary evolutionary progressive innovative pioneering visionary prospective anticipatory proactive preventive adaptive flexible agile responsive interactive participative inclusive integrative holistic systematic methodological analytical critical reflective introspective contemplative meditative spiritual philosophical existential metaphysical theoretical practical pragmatic functional operational utilitarian concrete tangible palpable measurable quantifiable verifiable observable perceptible sensible intuitive instinctual emotional affective relational communicative expressive artistic aesthetic poetic literary narrative descriptive.

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Speaker

Felix Boldt
CEO
Solarworx GmbH
Germany

Talk of session: Off-Grid: Rural Electrification Based on Solar Systems - Lessons Learned

Off-grid solar systems are often the least expensive option for rural electrification. Solar home systems can power individual households, while mini-grids can supply entire villages. Each comes with its own advantages, disadvantages, and challenges. The aim of this session is to explore challenges as well as success stories. It takes well-functioning components such as battery systems, charge management and inverters to make projects successful. Proper system sizing, maintenance and repair management, as well as a robust financial concept are also necessary. If one of these elements is missing, the electrification will not be sustainable. This session will focus on the aspects mentioned above. The speakers will present successful and unsuccessful approaches and discuss what can be learned from them.

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome & Introduction

Speaker

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Peter Adelmann
Director
id-eee Institute
Germany

To Talk

Challenges of Rural Electrification

Speaker

Catherine Adelmann
PhD Candidate
University of Applied Science Ulm
Germany

To Talk

Factors That Influence the Success of a Minigrid Project

Speaker

Thomas Kündiger
Chief Technology Manager
Balance of Storage Systems AG
Germany

To Talk

Q&A Session

To Talk