REN21 2014 Global Status Report Webinar Series > Africa

The Clean Energy Solutions Center—in partnership with the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21)—hosted this webinar as one in a series of no-cost webinars in conjunction with the launch of REN21’s flagship report, Renewables Global Status Report. This webinar examined Africa to:

• Find out what renewable changes happened in Africa over the course of 2013.
• Learn which technologies are contributing to increased power capacity.
• Hear how changes in policies have affected African investment levels and market development.

REN21’s Renewables Global Status Report (GSR), first released in 2005, provides a comprehensive and timely overview of renewable energy market, industry, investment and policy developments worldwide. The report is a collaborative effort involving lead authors, REN21 Secretariat staff and Steering Committee members, regional research partners, and the input of over 500 individual contributors and reviewers. The GSR has become the most frequently referenced report on renewable energy business and policy, serving a wide range of audiences.

Panelists

Laura Williamson, Communication and Outreach Manager, REN21

Laura Williamson is the Communication and Outreach Manager at REN21, the Renewable Energy Policy Network of the 21st Century. REN21 is a global public-private multi-stakeholder network on renewable energy, headquartered at UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris. Between 2008 and 2013, Ms. Williamson was the Project Director for HELIO International, an international think-tank developing renewable energy solutions. Previously, she worked for UNEP on industry and sustainability issues.

Angsar Kiene, Senior Programme Manager, Greenpeace

Ansgar Kiene is Senior Programme Manager at Greenpeace where he heads the GP Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Programme. He aims to foreground the correlation of environmental protection and sustainable development. He has been responsible for the World Future Council Climate and Energy Africa Programme based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ansgar also served as Secretary General of the African Renewable Energy Alliance. After graduating with a degree in marketing in 1995, Ansgar worked for eight years as Senior International Media Manager in Germany and the UK developing communication campaigns for leading brands in the consumer and business-to-business field. For the past seven years, he has been responsible for strategising and coordinating international campaigns for human rights and environmental organisations in the Non Profit Sector. Since 2009, he has been focusing his advocacy work on climate change and renewable energy policy on the African continent.

Kevin Nassiep, CEO, South African National Energy Research Institute

Kadri (Kevin) Nassiep is the CEO of the SA National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), which is a state-owned company established under the National Energy Act of 2008. The entity reports to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of South Africa. He holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and has over 20 years of experience in the energy sector. He has held senior positions within Eskom (the national utility in South Africa) and within the former national Department of Minerals and Energy. He also sits on various boards and trusts and ministerial advisory groups, at a national and provincial level. He also represents South Africa on a number of international committees related to clean energy.