How Solar PV Is Helping to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Africa

The smarter E Podcast Episode 149 | September 7, 2023 | Language: English

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.

Click on the logo to listen to the podcast on the platform of your choice.

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

Ahmad Sandid

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.

Content Partners

The smarter E Podcast

Bereits seit Frühjahr 2020 begrüßen wir im The smarter E Podcast Gäste zu allen Facetten der Energiewende. Nachhören lohnt sich!

Alle Podcast-Folgen in der Übersicht

The World’s Leading Exhibition for the Solar Industry
Learn more
Further Content
Press Release
First Intersolar Summit Africa Brings the Solar Industry to Nairobi

February 13, 2025

With over 250 expected participants, more than 50 high-caliber speakers and over 20 sponsors, the summit offers a central platform for exchange on the dynamic development of the solar and storage industry in Africa.

Publications
Intersolar Solarize Africa Market Report 2023

This third report in the "Solarize Africa Market Report" series investigates current developments on the African continent in general and 16 African national PV markets in detail.

Webinar
Accelerating C&I: Unlocking Growth in Commercial & Industrial Solar

January 16, 2025

free account

The field of agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) is growing increasingly in Germany and in France. The level of interest from players in agriculture, energy supply and research is rising sharply.

Publications
Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025–2029

SolarPower Europe’s annual Global Market Outlook for Solar Power is the most authoritative market analysis for the solar sector.

AgriVoltaics Industry Forum Europe 2024
Agrivoltaics‘ bigger picture and Europe’s impact

Tuesday, November 5, 2024 10:00am–11:30am

AgriVoltaics Industry Forum Europe 2024

premium account

A panel discussion featuring industry representatives from politics, agriculture, and photovoltaics will explore several key topics, including the impact of regulations and political frameworks, current limitations and hurdles, and future outlooks and steps forward. The discussion will emphasize the significant advantages of photovoltaics (PV) in agriculture, particularly in the context of climate change. Topics will include the added value PV provides to agriculture, such as the multi-use of land and the reduction of environmental impacts, as well as strategies to mitigate risks from extreme weather.

Service Menu
You are using an outdated browser

The website cannot be viewed in this browser. Please open the website in an up-to-date browser such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.