The International Hydropower Association has announced it will host two side events at COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco, next week.

On Monday 14 November, IHA will join with REN Alliance partner organisations representing different renewable energy technologies for the Renewables Working Together: Rural, City, National, Regional and Island Approaches event.

The event will analyse key challenges and prospects at five levels of renewable energy deployment. Case studies and best practices demonstrating renewables working together in different contexts will be also presented – and you can watch a live stream of the side event here.

The REN Alliance is a coalition of five renewable industry organisations – the IHA, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), the International Geothermal Association (IGA), and the World Bioenergy Association (WBA).

The side event will be moderated by Christine Lins, executive secretary, REN21. Speakers include:

  • Stefan Gsaenger, secretary general, World Wind Energy Association
  • Remigijus Lapinskas, president, World Bioenergy Association
  • Dave Renne, president, International Solar Energy Society
  • Marietta Sander, executive director, International Geothermal Association
  • Richard Taylor, chief executive, International Hydropower Association
  • Gustaf Landahl, head of department planning and environment, City of Stockholm

It follows a side event held in at COP21 in Paris, in December 2015, which discussed how technology solutions are in place for a 100% renewable future. You can read about the outcomes of the previous side event here.

The COP22 side event is on the official renewables track, and will take place on Monday 14 November at 16:45 – 18:15 in room Austral (300).

The second event – entitled Towards Better Hydro in Africa – will be held on Thursday 17 November, and will explore how hydropower can contribute to achieving Africa’s development goals.

Against the backdrop of Agenda 2063 and the establishment of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, this session will bring together key players active in hydropower in Africa.

Discussions will focus on current challenges, successes and how building the right projects in the right place can help achieve ambitious development goals.

Speakers at the side event include:

  • H.E Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission
  • H.E Cheick Taliby Sylla, Minister of Energy and Hydraulics, Government of Guinea
  • Mr Ali Fassi Fihri, CEO, ONEE, Morocco
  • Mr Richard Taylor, CEO, International Hydropower Association
  • Mr Amidou Traore, CEO, CI-Energies, Côte d’Ivoire

The side event takes place at 10:30 – 12:00 in the Morocco Pavilion, Blue Zone.