A new innovation network is being launched in South Africa. According to Innovate UK, the UK government's innovation agency, its aim is to connect start-ups developing ideas for intelligent energy management in the face of the climate emergency. The programme was launched recently at the Africa Energy Indaba conference.
South Africa, like the UK, wants to rise to the challenge of the energy transition. Technology could play a major role, particularly in integrating renewable energies into the electricity grid. To encourage the introduction of digital and technological solutions, Innovate UK, the UK government’s innovation agency, recently launched the UK-South Africa Smart Energy Global Innovation Network.
The new network will be managed by Innovate UK’s Global Alliance Africa, based in South Africa. This initiative aims to stimulate the development of innovative solutions for energy management, based on technology, digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), etc. To achieve this, the network will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, policy-makers and investors.
The challenge of intelligent energy management
Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI, intelligent energy management makes it possible to identify energy-hungry systems, adjust and optimise consumption, and above all install systems that are more respectful of the environment. A paradigm shift that could have a positive impact on interconnection, battery electricity storage and demand management in British and South African cities.
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According to Matthew Bray, Head of Knowledge Transfer for South Africa at Innovate UK, the new network will focus on four main initiatives: knowledge exchange, joint research and development, expert visits to enable South African organisations to connect with UK energy sector players, and research.
The establishment of this cooperation in the energy sector will above all support South Africa in its long march away from dependence (over 80%) on coal for the production of its electricity. Thanks to the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), the southern African country is building solar power stations, wind farms and storage systems in spades, in a context also marked by load shedding.
Jean Marie Takouleu
