Dialogue Agenda

Welcoming remarks & technical announcements by the Studio Moderator Malcolm Ohanwe and the Dialogue Ambassador Hajar Yagkoubi.

Opening Keynote Speech by Dr William Ruto, President, Kenya.

Opening Keynote Speech by Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.

Young Keynote Speech by Licypriya Kangujam, Environmental Activist, The Child Movement India.

In this session, an interview and a Deep Dive will be conducted to discuss the state of the global energy transition and the role of governmental approaches in accelerating it. The progress made so far and areas for improvement will be highlighted. Attendees will examine the energy transition from the perspective of associations, and entrepreneurs. We will delve into the crucial role political action plays in accelerating the transition, including the importance of government policies, regulations, and funding, as well as the challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome.

2022 has been a year of multiple challenges regarding not only, but in particular the topic of energy supply and energy security. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is a need for speed in implementing the energy transition in order to achieve the climate targets. This session will discuss how energy security and at the same time the energy transition towards a climate-neutral supply of electricity, heating and cooling can be achieved.

This Studio Session will feature an interview with Jochen Hauff, Director of Corporate Strategy, Energy Policy & Sustainability at BayWa r.e. Global, as well as a Deep Dive discussion on „The Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs): Supporting a Fair Energy Transition“. The JETPs aim to phase out coal and expand renewable energy in countries critical to meeting the Paris Climate Agreement while ensuring a just transition for coal-reliant communities. The session will examine the objectives and challenges facing the JETPs, including how they involve civil society and address the needs of vulnerable groups.

This session will have a focus on RES deployment in rural parts of the world. Munich-based start-up Vida uses satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to bring energy to remote locations. Boreal Light from Berlin offers modern, and at the same time simple, solutions for any of off-grid communities struggling with their supply of water and electricity. Being entirely powered by solar energy makes it a flexible solution, well-tailored for the needs of its target market.

Industry Impulse Speech by Anton Milner, CEO of ib vogt GmbH.

Young Keynote Speech by Elizabeth Wathuti, Founder, Green Generation Initiative, Kenya.

Studio #5

In both Africa and Europe, the rollout of renewable energy is progressing, although the way to carbon neutrality is still a long one. In this common struggle to accelerate the energy transition, fields of mutually beneficial cooperation are emerging: Africa has the world’s highest potential of renewable energy sources, but it needs to raise investment into renewable-energy infrastructure and industry. Europe has advanced significantly in the energy transition, but it has to find ways to satisfy its energy demand completely from renewable sources and to decarbonize its complex industrial sector. Channelling European investment into the African renewable-energy sector, while gearing up supply of renewable PtX-products from Africa to Europe could solve both challenges.

At the same time, raising green investment and establishing trade in renewable PtX-products would accelerate local energy transitions, foster sustainable growth, multiply jobs, and create socio-economic opportunities for the populations on both continents. The potential benefits are mutual: Africa can profit from its abundant renewable resources for energy- and PtX-production, while accelerating local industrialization by attracting energy-intensive industry. Europe can close its domestic-production gap in PtX-products needed for its industrial and transport sectors by relying on long-term partnerships with African countries.

The times when the off-grid sector mainly had small household solutions to offer, e.g. for light generation, are over. Today, the off-grid sector is incredibly diverse. Between household and productive use, applications can include water supply, cooling, industrial processing, (covid) vaccination centres, and much more. However, at the institutional level, the opportunities of off-grid solutions for rural electrification are often rather underestimated, while financial risks tend to be overvalued.

Meanwhile, solutions are increasingly being conceived as joint initiatives. The advantages of sector coupling are obvious: the different players can complement each other’s energy loads, counterbalance one another’s risk profiles towards investors, and create ecosystems with a higher level of economic activity and jobs. Can this trend give the off-grid sector the boost it needs to make the necessary energy access possible for the many? And how can it be given active support?

In this session, practitioners will share their experiences from an implementation perspective and explore meaningful ways forward for the sector with decision makers.

In this Session, we will have a closer Look on Renewables as the main Drivers of Energy Supply and approach a deeper Dive into the Topic of small Islands and their specific Challenges regarding RES Supply.
We will also introduce the next Topic, which is „massive Deployment” under the very different Circumstances worldwide.

Every country, every region of the world has its own requirements in terms of geography, infrastructure, demand, geology, solar radiation, wind and biomass, the possibility of hydroelectric power, etc. and last but not least, very different conditions as far as its workforce is concerned.

In times of global energy crisis, it is more important than ever to massively accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels and the phase-in of RES. This must happen faster on the one hand, and on the other hand through a significant quantitative expansion. From ever-larger renewable power plants to thousands of decentralized private generation facilities, there are many paths to more renewables.

Urban areas are at the heart of the energy transition; they “can be the problem or cities can be the solution” (Andrew Steer, former CEO, World Resources Institute). By 2030, over 5 billion people will live in urban areas, leading to an ever-increasing demand for energy in cities. A sustainable approach to urban planning has a positive impact on communities by preventing urban sprawl and improving urban infrastructure and mobility (non-motorized or electrified). E3 will discuss how phasing out fossil fuels will affect urban areas, including urban industry, how to reduce the energy intensity of these industries and how to support the shift to renewable energies. Closely connected to urban areas are ports and the maritime industry. The shipping sector accounts for 2.9 % of global CO2 emissions and the total emissions are projected to grow rapidly. Governments of all levels need to find ways to build sustainable metropolitan areas including urban and maritime industry. What strategies and technologies can be used to drive the energy transition on land and on sea and how can governments on all levels work together in creating the right frameworks for a post-fossil future?

Programme review by Malcolm Ohanwe, Studio Moderator and Hajar Yagkoubi, #betd23 Dialogue Ambassador.

Welcome and technical announcements by Malcolm Ohanwe, Studio Moderator and Hajar Yagkoubi, #betd23 Dialogue Ambassador.

Keynote by Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, COP28 President.

Keynote Speech by Heike Bergmann, Senior Vice President Sales Africa of Voith Hydro.

Young Keynote Speech by Mitzi Jonelle Tan, International Spokesperson and Convenor, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP).

This session consists of an interview and a Deep Dive focused on the Climate Club and its objectives. The Climate Club was officially proclaimed in December 2022, and the goal is to support the rapid and ambitious implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5°C. The initial focus will be on industrial decarbonization, improving energy efficiency, promoting renewable energy sources, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while avoiding competitive disadvantages for companies that actively work to protect the climate.

Progressing climate change and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have plunged the world into the first truly global energy crisis. Even more than before, it has become clear that accelerating the global energy transition through decarbonization and expansion of renewable-energy capacities is the solution to both halve GHG emissions by 2030 and to alleviate the current energy crisis. Concomitantly, accelerating the renewable-energy rollout holds tremendous opportunities for profitable investments, job creation, environmental protection, public health, and economic growth.

The chances are manifold and we want to act, but how can ambitions be translated into action? The session discusses several key levers to globally accelerate and sustain the energy transition: Decarbonizing industry, electrifying sectors, allocating space for renewable-energy production, harnessing supply chains, designing a sustainable industrial strategy, providing adequate financing, and extending transnational infrastructure (electricity grids, green-hydrogen pipelines and shipping routes). In addition, the relative importance of increasing energy efficiency will be discussed.

Throughout the session, speakers will debate the role of international cooperation: Which institutions, multilateral or bilateral, most effectively enable the key levers of global energy transition? Are existing initiatives, such as the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) or the G7 – Climate Club, the right instruments to translate ambition into action?

The effects of human-made climate change are a major issue for scientists, researchers and policy-makers alike. While there exists rather broad consensus that climate change is indeed happening and that the transition to renewable energy is needed, significant controversy over the extent of the consequences of climate change and adequate policy-responses persists. The cost of inaction regarding climate change will be borne by young people as they will suffer the consequences of the climate crisis. Especially in countries that are especially vulnerable to climate change, there is a youth bulge. 

But children and youth are determined not to simply be victims of climate change and have discovered their massive potential to hold decision-makers accountable. Namely at COP27, young activists sided with countries of the Global South calling for Loss and Damage Finance, social & climate justice, more inclusion of communities in policy design and upholding the 1.5° limit.

The question about intergenerational solidarity and justice is an important topic to be discussed when talking about the global energy transition. Are there distributional impacts of the energy transition? How can we make this transition fast, but still smooth to vulnerable communities? Who needs to be at the table, when policy decisions are made?  What is the responsibility of emitting countries and older generations?

This session is designed as a Front Row Participants Event. In the course of the session up to three speakers will stay on stage, while every 30 minutes the remaining 3-4 speakers will change. The change of the speakers will also introduce a new aspect in the discussion.

This session will feature an interview with Simon Hagedorn, CFO and member of Enertrag’s Executive Committee, and a Deep Dive between two financial managers about financing the transition to renewable energy. The session will examine the challenges and opportunities of accessing funding for energy transition projects, including grants, loans, and carbon pricing. Attendees will explore different sources of funding, such as public and private sources, and innovative approaches to financing the energy transition.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are highly interlinked and influence each other, to reach them intersectional approaches are needed. In regard to SDG7 (affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all) many dimensions need to be taken into account to achieve this goal. In turn, SDG7 influences other goals from job creation to economic development, from security concerns to the full empowerment of women.

Women, as individuals and as core of their communities, constitute half of the end consumers of energy and are more severely impacted by climate change and the lack of clean energy access, but are largely left out of the equation when designing energy solutions and infrastructure. Therefore, energy solutions often don’t fit the needs and the local circumstances of communities. However, women are a key driver for the achievement of SDG7, participation of women and communities in the design of energy systems is needed in order to achieve 100% affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

What we need is to involve women and communities in the processes and to apply a gender lens to the design of energy systems and international cooperation – namely feminist foreign policy & feminist energy policy.

The energy transition has picked up speed in many countries around the globe. However, while economies-of-scale have brought prices of hardware and components down, a bottleneck has developed on the labour market. In many places, the transformation of the energy system is progressing at slower speed due to a shortage of specialised workers and engineers – people who put the energy transition on the ground by building up the energy infrastructure. The session addresses this labour bottleneck and discusses its manifestations in a range of countries. It looks at possible solutions, including policies to step up training, retraining and attracting expat labour. The latter part of the session puts the country focus on fossil-fuel producers that pursue structural change by reorienting their workforce into renewable energies. Throughout the session, the question is how we can solve the specialised-labour problem globally, without falling back into international rivalry for attracting the best hands and minds.

As the world continues to face the urgent need to transition to a sustainable and low-carbon energy system, it is important to understand the challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable development goals.

Women are playing an important role in the energy transition throughout the world. Nevertheless, they are still underrepresented in the energy sector. Traditionally, we are organising a Women’s Lunch on 29 March at 1 pm in the German Federal Foreign Office’s International Club to give female experts a platform to exchange their experiences in an informal setting and strengthen their network with one another. Two inspiring keynotes will be followed by an exchange moderated by German Energy Agency (dena) Managing Director Kristina Haverkamp. The patrons of the event are Birgit Schwenk, Director General for Climate Action, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and Dr Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the Federal Foreign Office, who will open the Womens Lunch.

Register here (The Women’s Lunch is only available to participants and guests of the BETD.23)

This session will feature an interview with Markus Exenberger, Executive Director of H2Global Stiftung, and a Deep Dive with contributions from Hanane El Hamraoui, Vice President Industry of HDF Energy, and Stefan M. Büttner, Director Global Strategy and Impact at the Institute for Energy Efficiency in Production (University of Stuttgart).

The session will examine the role of industrial decarbonisation when it comes to reaching climate goals, including crucial aspects such as green hydrogen, energy and resource efficiency. It will shed light on the H2Global mechanism as an instrument to scale-up the global green hydrogen market, and feature perspectives from business and academia on how we can build a decarbonised global energy system for industry.

Impulse Speech by Sandoval de Araújo Feitosa Neto, Director General of the National Electrical Energy Agency, Brazil.

Studio Session with Studio moderator Malcolm Ohanwe interviewing Andreas Schierenbeck, CO-Founder & Board Member of HH2E  and Hajar Yagkoubi with a social media review, #betd23 Dialogue Ambassador

Heating and cooling for residential, commercial and industrial purposes accounts for half of energy consumption worldwide. In industrial processes in particular, there is considerable untapped and widely overlooked potential for replacing fossil fuels with renewable energies. The current crisis in energy security and the sharp rise in energy prices could massively accelerate the changeover if the framework conditions were right. Renewable heating and cooling are in greater demand than ever for hotels, breweries, the food industry and many more, because they offer security of supply as well as climate protection. Integrated systems with different heat generators and storage units can provide customized solutions for specific applications.

This session aims to discuss challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in heating and cooling, with a special focus on industrial processes.

This session will feature a Deep Dive with contributions from Trent Vichie, CEO of EverWind Fuels, and Dr Ulrike Beyer, Head of Referenzfabrik.H2 at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, on the role of finance, R&D and international cooperation in the scale-up of green hydrogen production. Besides, the session will include a stakeholder interview with Dr Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Climate Change Council (NCCC).

Climate Tech Start-ups and their role in the Energy Transition. Start-ups and innovation are playing a crucial role in our net zero future. That is why the Start-up Energy Transition Global Innovation Platform wants to give a voice to the innovators of tomorrow to ensure that, firstly, decision makers place energy innovation at the top of their agendas and secondly, that industry leaders employ innovation as the clear path to their decarbonisation goals.

Get to Know the winners of this year’s SET Award and find out what role they play in the energy transition with their start-up. What role do start-ups play in times of crisis?

Review of the second conference day by moderator Malcolm Ohanwe

Closing Ceremony with Jennifer Morgan, State Secretary & Special Envoy for International Climate Action, Federal Foreign Office, Germany and Anja Hajduk, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany.