Two leading programmes celebrating excellence and innovation in the African power and energy sector, have joined forces to honour the continent’s leading energy projects and pioneers. The African Power & Energy Elites publication and the African Power, Energy & Water Industry Awards have aligned for their 2020 editions with a single nomination and selection process across a set of complementary categories.

For the last six years, the coveted African Power, Energy & Water Industry Awards have been taking place during African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa conference and exhibition in Cape Town. Meanwhile, the prestigious African Power & Energy Elites publication has celebrated leadership and successful projects in the sector since 2016. The newly combined awards programme will be known as the African Power & Energy Elites and offer even more benefits, recognition and exposure for the finalists and winners, apart from the quality publication and glamorous awards evening. These benefits include access to, and speaking opportunities at leading energy events on the continent, a seat at the awards evening, a VIP tour of Cape Town and surrounds and an on-camera interview at the Awards evening.

The respective Elites categories are focused on excellence in leadership and pioneering projects and are applicable to both the public and private sectors, extending across power generation, transmission and distribution, water, independent power producers and project developers.    The final selection of African Power & Energy Elites projects and leaders is made by an external advisory board composed of experienced industry figures from around the world

Nomination categories

Leadership
These are industry influencers who are innovative in their leadership approaches and strategies to improve the greater power and energy, and water value chain on a regional or country level. These leaders can be active in the private or public sectors and can include academia. Their influential role should be setting benchmarks in their respective industry sectors including, but not limited to, project design and development, engineering, technology and innovation, data related projects, mentoring and coaching of colleagues, legislation and finance.

Generation Innovation and Optimisation
Projects in which electricity producers have improved thermal power generation efficiency and/or capacity by developing and implementing advanced and innovative technology and solutions into an existing or new power plant. Things to consider include reduced operational or deferred capital expenditures, carbon and other emissions reductions, life extension, and plant upgrades. This category is applicable to projects that fall within either small, medium and large-scale.

Renewable Energy Generation Innovation and Optimisation
Projects in which electricity producers have utilised renewable power generation and new business offerings to meet growing customer demand for cleaner energy options. This can include the utilisation of blockchain or peer to peer trading facilitation, complex stakeholder engagement, utility facilitated residential storage or a complete restructuring of a business to accommodate the technology. This category is applicable to projects that fall within either small, medium and large-scale.

Rural Electrification
Electrification projects that have made a considerable positive impact to increasing energy access and electrification rates in urban, rural and informal settlements. These projects can be initiatives driven by government, private developers, or public institutions. The project can include any form of technology that increases power distribution to unelectrified communities for use in homes, schools, healthcare facilities, agriculture, and small businesses.

Transmission & Distribution
Projects that have provided growth in the transmission and distribution of electricity either locally, nationally or regionally. These projects can include LV, MV and HV new build programmes, maintenance projects, service delivery initiatives, technology roll-out programmes, revenue protection measures, technical and non-technical loss reduction, grid integration, and initiatives to increase network stability. Projects should have faced complex challenges.

Smart Cities
Projects undertaken as part of a smart city initiative which have driven an integrated energy, transportation, water or gas system as part of an overall city plan. Initiatives can include increased access to data which has led to energy, water or gas savings or enhanced management, or the overall implementation of a water, gas or electricity management and/or supply programme, wastewater management, green buildings and energy efficient programmes, transportation within the energy efficiency framework.

Finance & Investment
These models should be exemplary in their fields which can be in the form of traditional financing models, FinTech and interactive platforms such as crowdfunding that attribute to the development of small, medium and large-scale power projects.

Digital Transformation
The most transformative product or project of 2019/2020 – this can include innovations across the water, power and energy value chain (generation; transmission; distribution). Additionally, innovation and progression in the use of data & analytics; significant meter rollouts; and innovations in research and development, training and skills development.

Deadlines

• 30 Aug 2019: Nominations close
• 30/31 Jan 2020: Digital publication is released to market on ESI Africa with the shortlisted people and projects
• 13 May 2020: Awards evening at African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa

To nominate a person or project: https://www.clarion-events-group.com/AfricanElites_
Nominations Category descriptions can also be found at https://www.esi-africa.com/regional-news/africa/nomination-categories-african-power-energy-elites-2020/

The African Power & Energy Elites is an annual journal produced by ESI Africa in collaboration with the Clarion Power & Energy Series recognising industry achievements across the power and energy value chain.

African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa is the flagship energy event organised by Spintelligent, a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the energy, infrastructure, mining, real estate and agriculture sectors. Other well-known events by Spintelligent include Future Energy East Africa, Future Energy Nigeria, the Utility CEO Forums, Nigeria Mining Week and DRC Mining Week. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group and African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa form part of Clarion Energy, which runs over 40 events that cover the oil, gas, power and energy sectors, making it one of Clarion Events’ largest portfolios.

Contacts
For exclusive sponsorship opportunities contact:
Errol Bryce: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Stephen Campbell: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Loudon Cito: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For nomination enquiries contact:
Ashley Theron-Ord: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Natalie Bacon: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Media contact
Senior communications manager:  Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone:  +27 21 700 3558
Mobile:  +27 82 562 7844
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Mother City to welcome back 10 000+ energy and water professionals

The 19th edition of the multi-award-winning African Utility Week conference and exhibition in Cape Town has obtained official U.S. Trade Fair Certification from the U.S. Department of Commerce, paving the way for a greater American participation at the event in Cape Town from 14-16 May next year. Along with the recently acquired, co-located event POWERGEN Africa, the event gathers the largest group of power, energy and water professionals in the African market.

“We are delighted to announce that U.S. Trade Certification has been granted, with the United States officially endorsing the event. We are looking forward to working with the U.S. Commercial Service over the next few months to facilitate U.S. participation at the event” says Edgar Baron, International Sales and Business Development Manager for Spintelligent, the organisers of African Utility Week.

He adds: “U.S. exhibitors will be able to connect with 10 000+ attendees from over 80 countries over the 3-day exhibition and conference and generate leads and qualified business enquiries showcasing their innovative solutions and build partnerships at the leading power, energy and water expo in Africa.”

The U.S. Commercial Service/ITA team will be providing export assistance to U.S. exhibitors. B2B matchmaking meetings with utilities, energy providers and Government officials will be available to U.S. exhibitors.

Apart from the official U.S. country pavilion at African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa showcasing specialised technology and services for the utility, metering, renewable and water industries, country pavilions from Germany, India, Denmark, France and Canada have already confirmed their presence at the 3-day event in May 2019 at the CTICC in Cape Town. At least four more country pavilions are expected on the exhibition floor.

Industry support
A multi-award-winning conference and exhibition, African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa has already secured early support from industry stalwarts including Conlog, Dromex, Landis+Gyr, Sumitomo and Utility Systems as platinum sponsors and Aberdare and Sulzer as gold sponsors.

Along with multiple side events and numerous networking functions the event also boasts a five track conference with over 300 expert speakers, focusing on industry disciplines such as: thermal generation, water, renewables, revenue cycle management and metering, transmission and distribution as well as project finance and investment.

The African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa expo offers an extensive Knowledge Hub programme that is CPD accredited, free to attend, and offers hands-on presentations that take place in defined spaces on the exhibition floor. They discuss practical, day-to-day technical topics, best practices and product solutions that businesses, large power users and utilities can implement in their daily operations.

African Utility Week and the co-located POWERGEN Africa is the flagship energy event organised by Spintelligent, a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the energy, infrastructure, mining, real estate and agriculture sectors. Other well-known events by Spintelligent include Future Energy East Africa, Future Energy Nigeria, the Utility CEO Forums, Agritech Expo Zambia, Nigeria Mining Week and DRC Mining Week. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group and African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa form part of Clarion Energy, which runs over 40 events that cover the oil, gas, power and energy sectors, making it one of Clarion Events’ largest portfolios.

Dates for African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa:
Conference and expo: 14-16 May 2019
Site visits: 17 May 2019
Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Website: http://www.african-utility-week.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfricaUtilities #AUW2019
Linkedin: African Utility Week

Contact:
Senior communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone: +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“Can utilities remain relevant, effective and lead the African energy revolution?”

A brand new study into the future of African power utilities and the challenges they face has highlighted four possible scenarios of what the continent’s energy sector will look like by the year 2030. In the whitepaper, titled: “The Future of Energy and Power Utilities in Africa”, utilities are envisioned to either become “The Lions of Africa”, “Hungry Hyenas”, “An Elephant Herd” or “White Elephants”, with each scenario having  different consequences for both the African energy industry at large as well as the consumer.

The research project was conducted by the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) at the University of Pretoria, in collaboration with Clarion Energy, organisers of flagship energy events such as African Utility Week, Future Energy East Africa, Future Energy Nigeria and the Utility CEO Forum series - meetings and events that share ideas, encourage networking and facilitate business partnerships across the continent.

Can utilities remain relevant?
“The future of power and energy in Africa is at a significant junction” says Natalie Bacon, programme director at African Utility Week, “and African states and the power stakeholders operating within this sector realise that the impact of providing universal access to affordable energy will not only lead to accelerated economic development but significant social improvements. Yet, to achieve universal access executives have many strategic decisions ahead of them.”

She explains: “hitherto business as usual for utilities has meant bulk energy production and distribution through coal-fired power plans, centralised grids and public sector monopolies. However, this is quickly coming under threat from new models of energy production and distribution. The four scenarios outlined by the study will help utilities and the wider industry visualise what African utilities could look like in 2030 and try to answer the important question of how utilities can remain relevant, effective and lead the African energy revolution”.

Honest reflection of sector in flux
Natalie Bacon adds: “we are very pleased with the completed GIBS Scenario Whitepaper which, even for a lay person, is easy to read and contains a treasure trove of background information, telling figures and statistics and country profiles. It provides an honest reflection of a sector in flux, detailing its current challenges and opportunities. “The Future of Energy and Power Utilities in Africa” will no doubt contribute to the on-going dialogue, knowledge sharing, challenging of the status quo and peer-to-peer interaction in the energy sector that we are continually striving to facilitate at our events.”

Four scenarios of future of utilities

Short summaries of each of the four scenarios identified in the study are:

SCENARIO 1: THE LIONS OF AFRICA
In 2030 African utilities have become a pride of agile lions, hunting for new opportunities in collaboration with business and community partners.

SCENARIO 2: HUNGRY HYENAS
In 2030 African utilities have become a pack of hungry hyenas, scavenging for short-term returns and manipulating the interests of their business and community stakeholders.

SCENARIO 3: ELEPHANT HERD
In 2030 African utilities have become a herd of African elephants, dominating the energy landscape in Africa with bold investments funded from abroad. Businesses and communities have little choice but to pay a premium to cover the rising cost of sovereign debt that accompanied the rapid expansion of bulk energy infrastructure between 2020 and 2040.

SCENARIO 4: WHITE ELEPHANTS
In 2030 African utilities have become a herd of white elephants, struggling for survival and relevance on a vibrant African continent.

Major uncertainties in sector
The research revealed that there are four major uncertainties that form the backdrop for the alternative future scenarios for African utilities and will determine their trajectory in a changing energy landscape:

- Fiscal stability and viability of alternative models: Will the precarious fiscal position of utilities be resolved in ways that produce long term sustainability and will viable alternative funding models be created in this process?

- Governance and regulatory readiness: Will the low quality of governance in the sector be improved and will this coincide with an appropriate regulatory response that is enabling and facilitating of new opportunities in the sector?

- Partnership and collaboration across social partners: Will the private sector and social actors such as communities consider partnership with utilities as an attractive prospect or will they seek to take advantage of new avenues for energy provision in isolation?

- Climate change: A wildcard / shock scenario: Will climate change and the effects thereof, such as extreme weather, persist, desist or accelerate, and what will be the effects? 

Some of the major current trends in the sector that were identified include: 

--Production and infrastructure: The private sector leads, as affordable renewable alternatives go mainstream due to power-purchase agreements.

--End users:New producers, led by smart urban developments, provide power directly to consumers and by that threaten state-monopoly in the sector.

--Key technological advances: Big Data and the resultant AIR (Artificial Intelligence Research) capabilities for smart and responsible management and policy.

--Macro environment: The shift from dictatorship and pseudo-democratic one-party states to technocratic authoritarianism. 

--Labour relations: Major labour movement backlash as renewable energy and alternatives, both in terms of production as well as management and distribution, to state-ownership, undermine job security in the mining sector in particular. 

--Financing and revenue: Non-payment by government users, municipalities and state-owned companies severely undermine state producers, placing pressure on the fiscus and leading to a public outcry. 

17 utility CEOs contribute
As part of the research done for the Scenario Whitepaper, the authors directly engaged with 17 CEOs of African utilities during the recent African Utility Week and CEO Forum in Cape Town in May, including:

* Botswana Power Corporation
* Burkina Faso, Société Nationale d’Electricité du Burkina Faso (SONABEL)
* Ghana, GridCo
* Malawi Electricity Generation Company
* Namibia, Erongo RED
* Nigeria, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company
* Nigeria, EKO - Electricity Distribution Company
* South Africa and Uganda, Eskom Enterprises
* South Sudan Electricity Corporation
* Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited
* Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company 

The Scenarios Whitepaper: “The Future of Energy and Power Utilities in Africa” is free to download from the African Utility Week website or click here: http://info.spintelligent.com/scenarioreport. 

Upcoming energy events by Clarion Energy:

Future Energy East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya: 12-13 September 2018
http://www.future-energy-eastafrica.com/ 

Utility CEO Forum East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya: 12-13 September 2018
http://www.utility-ceo-forum.com/eastafrica

Future Energy Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria: 13-14 November 2018
http://www.future-energy-nigeria.com/

Utility CEO Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria: 13-14 November 2018
http://www.utility-ceo-forum.com/westafrica 

Utility CEO Forum: West Africa: Dakar, Senegal: 4-5 December 2018
http://www.utility-ceo-forum.com/westafrica 

African Utility Week, Cape Town, South Africa: 14-16 May 2019
https://www.african-utility-week.com/ 

Utility CEO Forum: Africa, Cape Town, South Africa: 14-16 May 2019
http://www.utility-ceo-forum.com/africa 

Utility CEO Forum: Central Africa, Cameroon: July 2019
http://www.utility-ceo-forum.com/centralafrica 

Spintelligent, Clarion Energy These flagship energy events are organised by Spintelligent, a multi-award winning, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, which is part of Clarion Energy and Clarion Events Ltd. Other well-known events by Spintelligent are Agritech Expo Zambia, Farm-Tech Expo Kenya, Property Buyer Show, DRC Mining Week, Nigeria Mining Week and Kenya Mining Forum.

Contact:
Senior communications manager:  Annemarie Roodbol
Mobile:  +27 82 562 7844
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: http://www.spintelligent.com