Realising the benefits of community energy for a just energy transition

The workshop will explore the potential of off-grid solutions and energy communities to deliver the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 7: to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

John Salience, Chipopoma Hydro Plant, Malawi
Image credit: John Salience, Chipopoma Hydro Plant, Malawi

This event will is based upon research of the Community Energy Systems and Sustainable Energy Transitions in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique project (CESET). CESET is a three-year collaborative multi-institutional research partnership funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (grant reference ES/T006358/1) to explore how communities can support just energy transitions in East Africa.

The workshop aims to produce policy guidelines for including off-grid solutions and community energy in energy transition strategies, identify new research opportunities, influence discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference Baku (COP29), and, in the long term, convene follow-up discussions at the COP30 in Belém do Pará in 2025. While the project has a global focus, practical discussions will focus on ongoing examples of off-grid projects and strategies in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Mozambique.
In the morning, we will share our experiences of community energy and the barriers faced because of the lack of policy frameworks, supply chain challenges, limited resources, and community engagement and leadership.

0930-1030: Professor Vanesa Castán Broto - Realising the benefits of community energy for a just energy transition

1030-1115: Professor Yacob Mulugetta- Community Energy in the Just Transitions Agenda

1115-1130: Comfort break

1130-1200: Community energy in practice, experiences from Malawi

1200-1230: Clementina de Sousa, SNV - Gender equality and social inclusion in the offgrid energy sector: an experiment in Mozambique

1230-1300: Collective discussion and questions

1300 End

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