Technical Session Program｜The 8th RD20 Conference 2026

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Program

Tentative Program of the 8th RD20 Conference 2026 (As of September 3)

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Date

October 20, TS Plenary
October 20, TS #1: Energy Access
October 20, TS #2: Synthetic Fuels
October 21, TS #3: Critical Minerals for Energy

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Timetable of Technical Session (TS)

October 20, TS Plenary

October 20, 9:00－10:50 (SAST, UTC+2)

Time
9:00－10:50	TS Plenary : High Level Talks on Clean Energy Technologies Moderators: ･Dr. Kaven Naidoo, CSIR, South Africa ･Additional Moderator (TBD) Speakers and Presentation Titles: ･Ms. Mandy Mlilo, Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), South Africa DSTI Hydrogen & Energy Research, Development and Innovation Initiatives ･Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany Pathways to Climate Neutrality Through Renewables and Decarbonized Fossil Energy ･Dr. Pierre Serre-Combe, CEA, France Low Carbon Energy mix challenge and balance with RE for countries operating or considering Low-Carbon Energy Technologies ･Prof. Philippe POGGI, University of Corsica/CEA, France Research, Businesses and Innovation in Overseas Territories: Smart Grids and Energy Transition

Time

9:00－10:50

TS Plenary : High Level Talks on Clean Energy Technologies
Moderators:
･Dr. Kaven Naidoo, CSIR, South Africa
･Additional Moderator (TBD)
Speakers and Presentation Titles:
･Ms. Mandy Mlilo, Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), South Africa
DSTI Hydrogen & Energy Research, Development and Innovation Initiatives
･Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany
Pathways to Climate Neutrality Through Renewables and Decarbonized Fossil Energy
･Dr. Pierre Serre-Combe, CEA, France
Low Carbon Energy mix challenge and balance with RE for countries operating or considering Low-Carbon Energy Technologies
･Prof. Philippe POGGI, University of Corsica/CEA, France
Research, Businesses and Innovation in Overseas Territories: Smart Grids and Energy Transition

October 20, TS #1: Energy Access

October 20, 11:10－14:40 (SAST, UTC+2)

Time
11:10－14:40	TS #1: Energy Access—Innovative Solutions for 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. Moderators: ･Dr. Kittessa Roro, CSIR, South Africa ･Dr. Christian Thiel, JRC, EU (tentative) Speakers and Presentation Titles: ･Mr. Jay Bhagwan, Water Research Commission, South Africa Conduit hydropower – the invisible opportunity ･Dr. Tetra Yanuariadi, ITTO/BRIN, Indonesia Energy Access through Sustainable Forest Management: ITTO Projects and Lessons from Tropical Forest Landscapes ･Prof. Nico Fischer, University of Cape Town, South Africa Accelerating energy access through clean cooking – GreenQUEST Project ･Dr. Christian Thiel, JRC, EU JRC studies and tools related to Africa ･Dr. Alekhya Datta, TERI, India Decentralized Solar Applications – Lessons learned from India and replicability potential in Global South ･Prof. Mark Howells, UKERC, UK Accelerating Clean Energy Access in Africa from Data-to-Deal: Insights and Tools from Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) This list includes only a selection of confirmed speakers and is subject to change.

Time

11:10－14:40

TS #1: Energy Access—Innovative Solutions for 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.
Moderators:
･Dr. Kittessa Roro, CSIR, South Africa
･Dr. Christian Thiel, JRC, EU (tentative)
Speakers and Presentation Titles:
･Mr. Jay Bhagwan, Water Research Commission, South Africa
Conduit hydropower – the invisible opportunity
･Dr. Tetra Yanuariadi, ITTO/BRIN, Indonesia
Energy Access through Sustainable Forest Management: ITTO Projects and Lessons from Tropical Forest Landscapes
･Prof. Nico Fischer, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Accelerating energy access through clean cooking – GreenQUEST Project
･Dr. Christian Thiel, JRC, EU
JRC studies and tools related to Africa
･Dr. Alekhya Datta, TERI, India
Decentralized Solar Applications – Lessons learned from India and replicability potential in Global South
･Prof. Mark Howells, UKERC, UK
Accelerating Clean Energy Access in Africa from Data-to-Deal: Insights and Tools from Climate Compatible Growth (CCG)

This list includes only a selection of confirmed speakers and is subject to change.

October 20, TS #2: Synthetic Fuels

October 20, 15:10－17:30 (SAST, UTC+2)

Time
15:10－17:30	TS #2: Synthetic Fuels 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. Moderators: ･Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany ･Dr. Abdelilah Slaoui, CNRS, France Speakers and Presentation Titles: ･Dr. Lucero Cobos-Becerra, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Germany Industrial Collaboration Meets Synchrotron Science: Catalysis for Sustainable Fuels ･Dr. Prima Zuldian, BRIN, Indonesia RD20 Institution’s Latest Research on Synthetic Fuels ･Dr. Denzil Moodley, Sasol/Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, South Africa From Science to Scale: How Strategic Partnerships Accelerate Sustainable Fuel Technologies ･Dr. Yuichi Manaka, AIST, Japan International Collaborative Research on Ammonia Storage/Release under Severe Conditions ･Mr. Robert Szolak, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany Dimethyl Ether (DME) ･Dr. Sanjukta Subudhi, TERI, India Sustaibale Aviation Fuel through Alcohol to Jet pathway This list includes only a selection of confirmed speakers and is subject to change.

Time

15:10－17:30

TS #2: Synthetic Fuels
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.
Moderators:
･Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany
･Dr. Abdelilah Slaoui, CNRS, France
Speakers and Presentation Titles:
･Dr. Lucero Cobos-Becerra, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Germany
Industrial Collaboration Meets Synchrotron Science: Catalysis for Sustainable Fuels
･Dr. Prima Zuldian, BRIN, Indonesia
RD20 Institution’s Latest Research on Synthetic Fuels
･Dr. Denzil Moodley, Sasol/Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, South Africa
From Science to Scale: How Strategic Partnerships Accelerate Sustainable Fuel Technologies
･Dr. Yuichi Manaka, AIST, Japan
International Collaborative Research on Ammonia Storage/Release under Severe Conditions
･Mr. Robert Szolak, Fraunhofer-ISE, Germany
Dimethyl Ether (DME)
･Dr. Sanjukta Subudhi, TERI, India
Sustaibale Aviation Fuel through Alcohol to Jet pathway

This list includes only a selection of confirmed speakers and is subject to change.

October 21, TS #3: Critical Minerals for Energy

October 21, 9:00－12:00 (SAST, UTC+2)

Time
9:00－12:00	TS #3: Critical Minerals for Energy 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. Moderators: ･Dr. Jamie Speirs, University of Strathclyde/UKERC, UK ･Additional Moderator (TBD) Speakers and Presentation Titles: ･Dr. Angelique Janse van Rensburg, BMW, Germany TBD ･Dr. Jamie Speirs, University of Strathclyde/UKERC, UK TBD ･Dr. Stéphanie Riché, CEA, France Resilient Value Chains for the Energy Transition: A Circular Economy approach on Critical Battery Materials ･Mr. Souvik Bhattachary, TERI, India Bridging India’s Critical Mineral demand supply Gap: Challenges and Opportunities ･Dr. Fathan Bahfie, BRIN, Indonesia New Developing Green Extraction of Critical Mineral for Energy Security This list includes only a selection of confirmed speakers and is subject to change.

Time

9:00－12:00

TS #3: Critical Minerals for Energy
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.
Moderators:
･Dr. Jamie Speirs, University of Strathclyde/UKERC, UK
･Additional Moderator (TBD)
Speakers and Presentation Titles:
･Dr. Angelique Janse van Rensburg, BMW, Germany
TBD
･Dr. Jamie Speirs, University of Strathclyde/UKERC, UK
TBD
･Dr. Stéphanie Riché, CEA, France
Resilient Value Chains for the Energy Transition: A Circular Economy approach on Critical Battery Materials
･Mr. Souvik Bhattachary, TERI, India
Bridging India’s Critical Mineral demand supply Gap: Challenges and Opportunities
･Dr. Fathan Bahfie, BRIN, Indonesia
New Developing Green Extraction of Critical Mineral for Energy Security

This list includes only a selection of confirmed speakers and is subject to change.

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