Agenda

• Vijay Modi, Columbia University 

• Saudatu Bobboi, Rural Electrification Agency Nigeria

• Ifunanya Genevieve Nwandu, World Bank

• Moderated by Dimitris Mentis, World Resources Institute

• Daniel Komolafe, First Electric

• Vaibhav Vaidya, Simusolar

• Akeem Azeez, Koolboks

• Kanayor Emeagwai, Okra

• Anayo Nas Okenwa, Nayo Tropical Technology Ltd.

• Moderated by Vivien Barnier, The EnAccess Foundation

• Aisha Umar Mazamaza, Rural Electrification Agency - Nigeria 

• Akansha Saklani, World Resources Institute

• Nathan Williams, Rochester Institute of Technology 

• Gregory Ireland, Reiner Lemoine Institute

• Moderated by Douglas Ronoh, World Resources Institute

• Vivien Barnier, The EnAccess Foundation

• Stuti Dubey, The D-REC Organization

• Brianna Schuyler, Access to Energy Institute 

• Razvan Sandru, GIZ GET.invest 

• Moderated by Clara Donadello, The EnAccess Foundation

• Naomi Tan, Climate Compatible Growth

• Adrian Okorio, Centre of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Makerere 

• Kafayat Adeyemi, University of Abuja

• Dr. Tatiana González Grandón, United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security

• Sanli Faez, Utrecht University

• Moderated by Professor Vijay Modi, Columbia University

Anita Ihuman

Developer Advocate, MetalBear

Open source projects thrive on diverse perspectives and a commitment to fairness. By fostering inclusive environments that empower everyone to contribute, these communities unlock a wealth of innovation. Learn best practices for creating collaborative environments that provide opportunity and access to all individuals and discover how diversity, equity, and inclusivity influence the continued health, success, and sustainability of open source projects.

Ibi Fiberesima

Community Manager, Gruve Tickets

What is the importance of open-source collaboration within the energy access sector and how community-driven initiatives can drive innovation and sustainability.

Omotola Omotayo

Community Manager, Outreachy 

Open is the ability to share information, allow others to input, and enable collective project development for the common good. The essence of open source extends beyond mere collaboration; it cultivates practical and purposeful achievements.

When diverse contributors, each bringing unique knowledge, expertise, and skills, collaborate, they foster innovation and create something remarkable. Engaging the energy access sector in the open source ecosystem will encourage community involvement in planning and decision-making and raise public awareness about the sector's impact and potential.

In this talk, I will provide insight into what open source projects look like, nurture a community around the sector, and discuss the impacts of open source on the energy sector. At the end of the talk, energy sector leaders, potential users, and contributors will know where they stand and how they could examine and benefit from the transformative effects of open source on the energy industry.

Ruth Ikegah

Open Source Community Africa

Discover the transformative power of Open Source in shaping public and digital infrastructure. Learn how you can become involved in this vibrant open source community, regardless of your background or expertise. Explore open-source measurement metrics and tools, from code commits to community engagement, and uncover the key indicators of project success. 

Matias Küstner

Energy Analyst, Trama TecnoAmbiental (TTA)

During the last years, our company has experienced more and more the importance, need and potential of working with geospatial tools. During this presentation, we would like to share our experience as practitioners of both proprietary and open source geospatial software and tools, which we have been utilizing to develop geospatial analysis and support decision making processes for energy planning in various countries across the globe. We will delve into the importance of geospatial data and tools within energy access projects, focusing on the advantages and challenges encountered along the way of working with open source geospatial software and tools. We will present brief project case studies that showcase the successful application of open source geospatial tools in energy access projects, describe the challenges and limitations we faced during project implementation, and explore potential strategies for overcoming these challenges. We hope that the shared lessons learned may resonate on and help other fellow practitioners to keep navigating the amazing space of open source geospatial solutions in the energy access sector.

Chioma Ome

Country Director, Solar Sister

Mainstreaming women in designing, deploying, and maintaining energy solutions can expand energy access in rural and underserved communities. Women in off-grid communities play key roles as household energy managers, micro and small business energy users, and smallholder farmers utilizing energy for agro-processing. Women's inclusion in Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) technologies involves meeting women where they are and designing technologies for ease of usability and reparability, which is crucial for the adoption and sustainability of DRE solutions, leading to more inclusive and sustainable energy access for all.

Kashif Ali, CEO & Founder, Ukama Inc.

Elvis Attro, Ukama Inc.

In today's interconnected world, sustainable energy access is inextricably linked with internet connectivity. Yet, this vital resource remains scarce in remote communities, the very places where energy access companies are making strides. Imagine if these pioneers of energy access could also spearhead the deployment and operation of their internet services, tailored to their specific needs and those of their communities. This vision is not just ambitious; it's achievable with Ukama, an innovative open-source solution that empowers energy access providers to become Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in their own right.

The lack of reliable internet access poses a significant barrier to energy access providers, affecting the deployment, operation, and scalability of vital energy services in remote areas. Ukama’s project confronts this challenge head-on by providing an open-source, easily deployable internet solution that enables energy providers to expand their services, enhance operational efficiency, and fulfill the growing demand for digital access in underserved communities. This initiative is particularly crucial for the success of pay-as-you-go solar systems and microgrids, which rely on connectivity for efficient management and expansion. At the forefront of narrowing the digital divide, Ukama introduces a groundbreaking, open-source methodology to ensure dependable internet connectivity alongside energy access efforts. Our development encompasses cellular base station hardware, a distributed cellular core, a management console, and comprehensive cloud services. By weaving our open-source connectivity solutions with existing energy infrastructure, we unlock unprecedented opportunities for operational efficiency and community services, marking a giant leap towards the universal attainment of energy access and digital literacy.

Dr. Tatiana González Grandón

United Nations University, Bonn

Institute for Environment and Human Security

Autarky is introduced as an open-source software designed to address the complex challenges faced by (grid-connected or off-grid) mini-grid operators in Sub-Saharan Africa. These challenges stem from four different uncertainties: random solar power and demand forecasting errors; unknown frequency and duration of outages from the main grid. Traditional power system design and operation methodologies are insufficient in handling these multifaceted uncertainties.

In response, Autarky offers a comprehensive solution based on stochastic optimization principles, uniquely capable of simultaneously accommodating all four types of uncertainties. By integrating these factors into its optimization framework, Autarky empowers mini-grid operators to optimize sizing and dispatch strategies effectively, ensuring robust and reliable operation even in volatile environments.

The efficacy of Autarky is demonstrated through real-world application in a mini-grid situated in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Through comparative analysis with conventional sub-optimal deterministic tools, which overlook randomness and uncertainty, Autarky showcases its efficacy in providing accurate and resilient solutions for both grid-connected and off-grid mini-grid systems. This presentation elucidates Autarky's significance as a pivotal tool in advancing sustainable and reliable energy access in underserved

regions.

https://github.com/Autarky-Power/

Elona Erezi

Management Consultant, Energy & Sustainability

The global energy crisis has highlighted the critical need for an accelerated transition to sustainable energy sources, especially in Africa, where energy access remains a significant challenge. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions exacerbated by reliance on unclean energy sources, Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change. Doubling energy efficiency progress and tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, as agreed at COP28, are crucial goals. Open source technologies offer promising solutions in Africa for sustainable energy access, including transparent, innovative, and collaborative hardware, software, and data platforms. Stakeholders from academia, renewable energy companies, policymakers, NGOs, and the open-source community must collaborate to explore open source tools and data-driven approaches.

Establishing Communities of Practice (CoPs) encompassing a spectrum of people groups and voices can facilitate knowledge exchange, foster innovation, and develop interoperable localized solutions. Leveraging the expertise of African project developers is key to accelerating the adoption of open source technologies for sustainable energy access. To localize global open source assets effectively, some strategies such as translation, collaboration with local partners, and user feedback gathering are essential. These efforts can ensure the adaptation of technologies to local contexts and preferences, driving optimal usability and effectiveness.

Dr. Peter Ngene

Assistant Professor, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science - Utrecht University

In the FAIR battery project, we aim to develop affordable and easy-to-use redox flow battery technologies that are suitable for small mini grids in rural areas. We also aim to make the knowledge of the battery assembly and operation an open source to facilitate the energy transition in poor rural areas.