Recording of Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Language: English | Duration: 62:34 .

Resilience and Innovation in Energy Solutions Amidst Conflict

Mini-grids are essential for maintaining vital services in conflict-affected regions like Ukraine, where solar systems, such as the 2.3-megawatt installation for the Zhytomyr water utility, play a critical role in ensuring uninterrupted water supply. The construction of a 4-megawatt emergency power system reflects the urgent need for backup power amidst infrastructural disruptions. Centralized grids are economically unviable, driving a shift towards decentralized solutions that can effectively meet energy demands in war-torn countries like Syria, where large-scale destruction has led to the adoption of small-scale energy systems. Solar energy has become a lifeline for Syria, significantly improving access to electricity and supporting health services and agriculture. In Ethiopia, robust frameworks for renewable energy and mini-grids highlight successful transitions that can inform other nations facing similar challenges. The focus on local engagement and training of personnel is crucial for the operational success of energy systems, enhancing community resilience. Political commitment and innovative financing mechanisms are vital for advancing these energy transitions and ensuring long-term sustainability in affected regions.

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Speaker

Gianni Chianetta
Chair
Greening the Islands Foundation
Italy

Ing. Dereje Walelign Mera
Chairman
Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association
Ethiopia

Vladyslav Sokolovskyi
Chairman of the Board of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine
Solar Energy Association of Ukraine
Ukraine

Tobias Merkel
Managing Director
SOLAR23 GmbH
Germany

Lana Almasri
Independent Energy Advisor

Talk of session: Off-Grid to the Rescue: Rebuilding with Mini-Grids

In this urgent and forward-looking session of the Intersolar Europe Conference, we bring together voices from the frontlines of decentralized energy: representatives from Syria, Ukraine and Ethiopia - spanning immediate crisis response and longer-term energy market development - alongside practitioners who build and operate these systems at scale. What unites all perspectives is a shared insight: decentralized renewable energy proves its reliability precisely where conventional grids are absent, destroyed or isolated - from war-torn regions to island communities cut off from mainland supply.The initial focus is on the immediate, life-saving needs: hospitals, schools and water supply systems. We then move to the medium-term goal - interconnecting mini-grids, rebuilding resilient infrastructure, creating new jobs and livelihoods. A central question runs through both phases: how do we train local workforces through vocational training, apprenticeships and certification programs, so that rebuilding is not only about hardware, but about people and enduring capacity?Join us to examine how off-grid solar transitions from emergency stop-gap to the sustainable backbone of recovery and growth.

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome & Introduction

Speaker

Lea Dunst
International Project Manager
BSW - German Solar Association

Dr. Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk
Director, Climate, Environment, Health, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)

To Talk

Setting the Scene

Speaker

Gianni Chianetta
Chair
Greening the Islands Foundation
Italy

To Talk

Partners & Sponsors

• Conference Partner