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
Arrival and Registration (ICC Registration Desk)
Welcome address
Dr. Thulani Dlamini (CSIR)
Opening remarks
Executive of CSIR (TBD)
DSTI Hydrogen & Energy Research, Development and Innovation Initiatives

Ms. Mandy Mlilo, Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), South Africa
Pathways to Climate Neutrality Through Renewables and Decarbonized Fossil Energy

Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany
Low Carbon Energy mix challenge and balance with RE for countries operating or considering Low-Carbon Energy Technologies

Dr. Pierre Serre-Combe, CEA, France
Research, Businesses and Innovation in Overseas Territories: Smart Grids and Energy Transition

Prof. Philippe POGGI, University of Corsica/CNRS, France
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
Conduit hydropower – the invisible opportunity
Mr. Jay Bhagwan, Water Research Commission, South Africa
Energy Access through Sustainable Forest Management: ITTO Projects and Lessons from Tropical Forest Landscapes
Dr. Tetra Yanuariadi, ITTO/BRIN, Indonesia
Accelerating energy access through clean cooking – GreenQUEST Project
Prof. Nico Fischer, University of Cape Town, South Africa
JRC studies and tools related to Africa
Dr. Sandor Szabo, JRC, EU (online)
Decentralized Solar Applications – Lessons learned from India and replicability potential in Global South

Mr. Alekhya Datta, TERI, India (online)
Profile
Accelerating Clean Energy Access in Africa from Data-to-Deal: Insights and Tools from Climate Compatible Growth (CCG)
Prof. Mark Howells, UKERC, UK
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
Industrial Collaboration Meets Synchrotron Science: Catalysis for Sustainable Fuels
Dr. Lucero Cobos-Becerra, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Germany
RD20 Institution’s Latest Research on Synthetic Fuels
Dr. Prima Zuldian, BRIN, Indonesia (online)
From Science to Scale: How Strategic Partnerships Accelerate Sustainable Fuel Technologies

Dr. Denzil Moodley, Sasol, South Africa
International Collaborative Research on Ammonia Storage/Release under Severe Conditions
Dr. Yuichi Manaka, AIST, Japan
Dimethyl Ether (DME)
Mr. Robert Szolak, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany
Sustainable Aviation Fuel through Alcohol to Jet pathway
Dr. Sanjukta Subudhi, TERI, India (online)
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
Arrival and Registration (ICC Registration Desk)
Innovating for Impact: Collaborative R&D for Sustainable, Competitive and Resilient Battery Value Chains

Dr. Angelique Janse van Rensburg, BMW, Germany
Profile
Critical minerals: Eskom Green hydrogen research: Perspectives from an electricity utility
Mr. Shaun Pershad, Eskom, South Africa
Resilient Value Chains for the Energy Transition: A Circular Economy approach on Critical Battery Materials
Ms. Stéphanie Riché, CEA, France (online)
Bridging India’s Critical Mineral demand supply Gap: Challenges and Opportunities
Mr. Souvik Bhattacharjya, TERI, India (online)
New Developing Green Extraction of Critical Mineral for Energy Security
Dr. Fathan Bahfie, BRIN, Indonesia (online)
Rare Earth Elements: Rethinking Extraction — State of Knowledge and Perspectives
Dr. Emilie Janots, Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, France (online)