Nicolò Stevanato, a researcher at the Department of Energy, recently gave a keynote speech entitled “The challenges for a sustainable energy access and energy transition in African contexts” at the International Conference on Innovations and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Underserved Areasche held in Dakar, Senegal, on 3 and 4 July.

In his keynote, Stevanato discussed how renewable energies, particularly solar, are at the heart of sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa in the quest for a – just energy transition. He highlighted the crucial role of energy models for strategic planning and implementation, enabling policymakers and stakeholders to design effective and resilient energy access solutions. Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of international partnerships, especially between the European Union and the African Union, to promote technological innovation, policy alignment and knowledge exchange, accelerating the region’s progress towards universal energy access and a sustainable energy future.

Stevanato also took part in several meetings and institutional visits during his stay. He met with representatives of the Italian Embassy in Dakar, the Director of the AICS (Agenzia Italia per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo) office, Marco Falcone, and members of ANER (Senegal’s National Agency for Renewable Energy) and ASER (enegalese National Agency for Rural Electrification) to discuss the adoption of open source energy models and capacity building programmes.

It was a privilege to share my research work on these issues, which are fundamental for the energy future of the African continent,’ said Stevanato. I thank Prof. Kebe Cheikh Mouhamed Fadel and Eugenio Cavallo of the Italian Embassy in Dakar for inviting me, and all the participants who contributed to this important conversation. Together we can help drive meaningful change towards a sustainable and equitable energy future for all.

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