By James Jones/ Agency Report
JOHANNESBURG/South Africa: The electricity industry in Africa is undergoing massive transformation and the old linear model of conducting electricity affairs is being challenged and tested, as new models are emerging with far reaching impact.
This is the view of General Electric, as the world renowned power company leads in the end to end power technology debate at the PowerGen and DistribuTech 2017 event in Johannesburg, South Africa.
According one of the General Managers of the company, George Njenga, sustained investment in the new technology is key to assuring Africa’s growth, and pointed out that the new technologies across the electricity value network is helping countries meet their electricity demands.
Mr. Njena, who is Steam Power Systems for Sub Saharan Africa, while speaking as a keynote speaker at the opening of the event, said that the electricity industry in Africa is undergoing massive transformation and the old linear model of conducting electricity affairs is being challenged and tested, as new models are emerging with far reaching impact.
“GE is committed to helping countries meet their growing energy demands with its full spectrum of energy solutions that will help them increase their energy capacity, and improve the reliability of their networks,” Njenga said. “Many of the solutions we are demonstrating at this event have already been deployed and are making a difference today,” he added.
“Distributed generation, smarter & cleaner steam power, renewables, smart grids, storage, prosumers, innovative financing, evolving energy policies and new political imperatives mean that energy stakeholders need to embrace new capabilities and innovative business models for better outcomes and to bring more power to the population, faster and more sustainably than before,” said Njenga.
In many African countries, like South Africa, Angola and Ghana, GE has been partnering with energy stakeholders to deploy innovative technologies tailored to respond to the needs of the region.
“GE is committed to helping countries meet their growing energy demands with its full spectrum of energy solutions that will help them increase their energy capacity, and improve the reliability of their networks,” Njenga said. “Many of the solutions we are demonstrating at this event have already been deployed and are making a difference today,” he added.
Developing reliable power supplies across the continent is a global priority and a critical necessity to ensure Africa can reach its economic and human potential.
PowerGen and DistribuTech bring together utilities, financiers and energy leaders from across the region to discuss and develop technical knowledge in the field of electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
