Documents

Programme;

13:30 - 14:00 Walk-in for members VZKC

14:00 - 14:45 Closed part for additional VZKC members' meeting

14:45 - 15:00 Break and walk-in for interested parties for second part

15:00 - 16:15 'Energy Access' in Africa: it can be done with solar energy!

Lecture by Caroline Nijland, with room for questions

16:15 - 17:00 Networking drinks

'Energy Access' in Africa: it can be done with solar power!with Caroline Nijland

The government's new Africa Strategy puts 'equal economic development'

central. Then it's certainly also about the energy transition there, in Africa. And then it is certainly about

'Energy Access'. For instance, the Netherlands wants to give 100 million people access to

modern electricity. Solar energy can make a major contribution to this. How and in what

ways, that is what Caroline Nijland will talk about.

Caroline Nijland has been working on solar energy in Africa for a very long time. She was involved in projects in

several countries, from Senegal and Guinea Bissau to Uganda and Zambia. From 2007 to 2018

she was director of the Foundation Rural Energy Services (FRES, see www.fres.nl), with local

companies in a number of countries and managed from Amsterdam. The companies provide residents and

small businesses with solar power through solar home systems and mini-grids, and have local

management.

She is currently working from her own company Helios Infinitas (see www.heliosinfinitas.com) on

projects, including as an advisor to GET.invest (see www.get-invest.eu), which facilitates investments

enables investments in renewable energy projects in developing countries. In doing so, she is strongly

for sustainable, inclusive and transparent business practices.

In 2020, Caroline received the Global Woman Sustainability Award, for her contribution to

access to solar power for more than one million people from sub-Saharan Africa.

The VZKC invited Caroline to talk about her experiences with 'Sun in Africa' and

realising 'Energy Access'. How can the Netherlands and Europe best contribute to this?

And when could you talk about an 'equal energy transition development'?