Start of the Italian module of Open Africa Power 2021

February 7, 2022

Today the Italian module of Open Africa Power 2021 starts, with a focus on the new frontiers of the energy sector. The module will be delivered online till the end of February with the involvement of the Italian academic partners of the program: Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Milano, SDA Bocconi, and Venice International University. After an introductory speech by Enel Foundation to welcome the students, the first lecture will be delivered by Professors of the Politecnico di Torino and focus on “Data science for big energy data”.

Politecnico di Torino will also discuss throughout the sessions additive manufacturing, ICT applied to networks’ management, marine energy, electrification and renewables more in general, with a focus on hydropower. Professors from the Politecnico di Milano will elaborate on the solar and wind technologies, sharing PoliMi’s energy projects and activities in Africa and guiding a virtual visit to PoliMi Wind Tunnel. The Venice International University will deliver classes on decision-making under certainty and public engagement for a better energy, involving participants in an interactive session to define the key elements for effective public engagement and science communication in the energy sector. SDA Bocconi will wrap up the Italian module with a final session on the drivers of the energy sector and the impact of renewable technologies, with a final Q&A and open discussion on the African Case.

This year Open Africa Power saw the admission of 90 outstanding students coming from 28 African countries, with more than 40% being women and almost 50% having PhDs/MBAs. The aim of the program is to empower a new generation of African leaders in order to support them in enforcing the clean energy transition the continent will go through in the next decades. The application was open to all African students, including those African Nationals currently living abroad, but wanting to relocate back to Africa, as one of the program’s aims is to contribute to talent retention in the continent.

The African module, that followed the digital course delivered online by the Florence School of Regulation, took place last summer, held by the the Graduate School of Business (GSB) of the University of Cape Town, our partner in this venture. It provided students with a comprehensive overview of the energy sector, its current challenges and opportunities, while also deep-diving in the major issues faced by the power sector. Academics, researchers and experts from Enel Foundation and GSB shared their knowledge and experience on subjects such as smart grids, resilience, thermal generation, risk mitigation for SSA and IPPs, policy and regulation, RE investments in Africa, and many more.

The program is at its 4^th edition, having been launched in 2018 in collaboration with top academic partners such as Strathmore University and University of Nairobi in Kenya, University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, University of Cape Town in South Africa, and Italian institutions such as Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi University, Florence School of Regulation, and Venice International University. In 2020 Enel Foundation launched also its partnership with Nelson Mandela Foundation, dedicating that edition to Madiba in recognition of the program’s promotion of sustainable solutions to critical social problems.