TS Plenary: High Level Talks on Clean Energy Technologies
October 20, 9:00-10:50 (SAST, UTC+2)
Venue: Diamond auditorium, Ground Floor
 Moderator: Dr. Thembakazi Mali, CSIR, South Africa

October 20, TS Plenary

08:00

08:55

Arrival and Registration (ICC Registration Desk)

08:55

09:00

Safety briefing

09:00

09:20

Welcome address

Dr. Thulani Dlamini (CSIR)

09:20

09:40

DSTI Hydrogen & Energy Research, Development and Innovation Initiatives

  Ms. Mandy Mlilo, Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), South Africa   Presentation Materials

09:40

10:00

Pathways to Climate Neutrality Through Renewables and Decarbonized Fossil Energy

  Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany   Presentation Materials

10:00

10:20

Low Carbon Energy mix challenge and balance with RE for countries operating or considering Low-Carbon Energy Technologies

  Dr. Pierre Serre-Combe, CEA, France   Presentation Materials

10:20

10:40

Research, Businesses and Innovation in Overseas Territories: Smart Grids and Energy Transition

  Prof. Philippe POGGI, University of Corsica/CNRS, France   Presentation Materials

10:40

11:00

Discussion and wrap-up

11:00

11:10

Coffee Break

TS #1: Energy Access—Innovative Solutions for Africa
October 20, 11:10-14:50 (SAST, UTC+2)
Venue: Diamond auditorium, Ground Floor
Moderator: Dr. Kittessa Roro, CSIR, South Africa

Session Theme: This session aims to identify priority technology development challenges and catalyze collaborative research across member institutions in the field of energy access. It will focus on practical and scalable solutions that expand reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy services, particularly for underserved and remote communities. Special attention will be given to productive-use technologies for decentralized energy systems that support income generation, agriculture, small enterprises, healthcare, and education. The session will also explore innovations and partnerships to accelerate the deployment of clean cooking technologies, improving health outcomes, reducing environmental impacts, and enhancing energy security. Through knowledge exchange and joint action, the session seeks to strengthen cooperation and drive impactful research initiatives among member institutions.

October 20, TS #1: Energy Access

11:10

11:30

Conduit hydropower – the invisible opportunity

  Mr. Jay Bhagwan, Water Research Commission, South Africa   Presentation Materials

11:30

11:50

Energy Access through Sustainable Forest Management: ITTO Projects and Lessons from Tropical Forest Landscapes

  Dr. Tetra Yanuariadi, ITTO/BRIN, Indonesia   Presentation Materials

11:50

12:10

Accelerating energy access through clean cooking – GreenQUEST Project

  Prof. Nico Fischer, University of Cape Town, South Africa   Presentation Materials

12:10

13:30

Lunch

13:30

13:50

JRC studies and tools related to Africa

  Dr. Sandor Szabo, JRC, EU (online)   Presentation Materials

13:50

14:10

Decentralized Solar Applications – Lessons learned from India and replicability potential in Global South

  Mr. Alekhya Datta, TERI, India (online)   Profile   Presentation Materials

14:10

14:30

Accelerating Clean Energy Access in Africa from Data-to-Deal: Insights and Tools from Climate Compatible Growth (CCG)

Prof. Mark Howells, UKERC, UK

14:30

14:50

Discussion and wrap-up

14:50

15:10

Coffee Break

TS #2: Synthetic Fuels
October 20, 15:10-17:30 (SAST, UTC+2)
Venue: Diamond auditorium, Ground Floor
Moderators:
 Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany
 Dr. Abdelilah Slaoui, CNRS, France

Session Theme: This session aims to identify key technology development challenges in synthetic fuel production and highlight opportunities for collaborative research across member institutions. Discussions will focus on advancing innovative production pathways, improving process efficiency, reducing costs, and scaling sustainable feedstock and infrastructure solutions. Particular attention will be given to the integration of synthetic fuels with the emerging hydrogen value chain, enabling cleaner industrial processes, transport applications, social readiness level and energy systems. The session seeks to strengthen international cooperation and accelerate the development of a globally competitive synthetic fuels and hydrogen economy.

October 20, TS #2: Synthetic Fuels

15:10

15:30

Industrial Collaboration Meets Synchrotron Science: Catalysis for Sustainable Fuels

  Dr. Lucero Cobos-Becerra, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Germany   Presentation Materials

15:30

15:50

Sustainable Production of Syngas and Liquid Fuels from Domestic Waste and Agro-Industrial Biomass Residues

  Dr. Prima Zuldian, BRIN, Indonesia (online)   Presentation Materials

15:50

16:10

From Science to Scale: How Strategic Partnerships Accelerate Sustainable Fuel Technologies

  Dr. Denzil Moodley, Sasol, South Africa   Presentation Materials

16:10

16:30

International Collaborative Research on Ammonia Storage/Release under Severe Conditions

  Dr. Yuichi Manaka, AIST, Japan

16:30

16:50

Sustainable Aviation Fuel through Alcohol to Jet pathway

Dr. Sanjukta Subudhi, TERI, India (online)

16:50

17:10

Discussion and wrap-up

TS #3: Critical Minerals for Energy
October 21, 9:00-11:40 (SAST, UTC+2)
Venue: Diamond auditorium, Ground Floor
Moderator: Dr. Aidan Rhodes, Imperial College London/UKERC, UK

Session Theme: This session will explore technologies for the production, use, and recycling of critical minerals, while highlighting key technology development challenges with strong potential for collaborative research across member institutions. Discussions will focus on sustainable extraction and processing methods, circular economy approaches, material recovery and recycling innovations, and strategies to strengthen resilient supply chains.
The session will also examine linkages between critical minerals and sustainable fuel pathways, particularly for aviation and maritime decarbonization, where advanced fuels and enabling technologies are essential. Through international cooperation, the session aims to accelerate innovation and support a secure, sustainable, and competitive clean energy transition.

October 21, TS #3: Critical Minerals for Energy

08:00

08:55

Arrival and Registration (ICC Registration Desk)

08:55

09:00

Safety briefing

09:00

09:20

Innovating for Impact: Collaborative R&D for Sustainable, Competitive and Resilient Battery Value Chains

  Dr. Angelique Janse van Rensburg, BMW, Germany   Profile

09:20

09:40

Critical minerals: Eskom Green hydrogen research: Perspectives from an electricity utility

  Mr. Shaun Pershad, Eskom, South Africa   Presentation Materials

09:40

10:00

Resilient Value Chains for the Energy Transition: A Circular Economy approach on Critical Battery Materials

Ms. Stéphanie Riché, CEA, France (online)

10:00

10:20

Coffee Break

10:20

10:40

Bridging India’s Critical Mineral demand supply Gap: Challenges and Opportunities

Mr. Souvik Bhattacharjya, TERI, India (online)

10:40

11:00

New Developing Green Extraction of Critical Mineral for Energy Security

  Dr. Fathan Bahfie, BRIN, Indonesia (online)   Presentation Materials

11:00

11:20

Rare Earth Elements: Rethinking Extraction — State of Knowledge and Perspectives

Dr. Emilie Janots, Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, France (online)

11:20

11:40

Discussion and wrap-up

11:40

13:30

Lunch