Powering the Energy Transition: A Tale of Two Hemispheres | Part III: Technology

On July 25, the GBSN for Energy Transition Impact Community held it’s third part in their virtual series, Powering the Energy Transition: A Tale of Two Hemispheres Part III: Technology. This virtual series was designed to convene perspectives through the lens of the global north and global south, while exploring key elements of the energy transition journey. We invited both practitioners and academia from around the world, and was joined by 50 participants from 10 countries.

We’d like to give a special thanks to our Impact Community Leads, Gregory Bean, Director, Guitterez Energy Management Institution from Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, Sarah Craig, Programme Manager Energy Transition, Rotterdam School of Management, Dr. Yashar Ghiassi-Farrokhfal, Associate Professor at the Department of Technology and Operations Management at Rotterdam School of Management, Lwazi Ngubevana, Director at the African Energy Leadership Centre (AELC), Wits Business School, and Maurice Radebe, Head and Director of Wits Business School, as well as our four panelists, Thembakazi Mali, Thabo Molekoa, and Jos Röling and Energy Transition Impact Community Lead, Yashar Ghiassi-Farrokhfal. Thank you for your thought provoking dialogue and for enlightening us with your shared combination of expertise, passion and engaging conversation.

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  Dr. Yashar Ghiassi-Farrokhfal

  Associate Professor – Department of Technology and Operations Management
  Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) Erasmus University
  Netherlands
  
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  Thembakazi Mali

  Senior Vice President for Research and Technology
  Sasol
  South Africa
  
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  Thabo Molekoa

  Chairman
  MD Siemens Energy
  South Africa
  
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  Jos Röling

  Senior Architect
  IBM Global Business Services, Center of Competence for Energy and Utilities
  Netherlands
  

Watch the Recording

Session Synopsis

“Powering the Energy Transition: Part III: Technology”  featured guest speakers Yashar Ghiassi-Farrokhfal, Thembakazi Mali, Thabo Molekoa, moderated by Lwazi Ngubevana.

Co-hosted by University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business, Wits Business School, and Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, The discussion explored the key elements of the energy transition journey through the global north and global south lens.

Lwazi Ngubevana moderated an interactive and provocative dialogue with the four speakers, addressing questions like:

• What is the current state of innovation in technology for clean energy generation, distribution, and consumption? How would you rate the technology progress versus what is needed for the different clean energy value chains (low carbon electricity, carbon capture/use/storage, low carbon hydrogen, advanced biofuels, low carbon synfuels)? In what areas, if any, is there a need to prioritize further investment? 
• How do you see the different investment priorities for the specific situations of regions in the Global North (North America, Europe, North Asia) and Global South (Africa, Asia, Middle East, Latin America) depending on relative priorities of (1) reducing reliance on fossil fuels versus (2) increasing reliance on renewable energy sources versus (3) improving local economies/standards of living? 
• For regions that you are familiar with, what do you see as the three most important technologies that will help the region develop a low carbon energy system?

GBSN for Energy Transition Impact Community

The goal of the GBSN for Energy Transition impact community is to advance knowledge on the business-related challenges and opportunities of the transition to a global sustainable energy system in line with the energy-related themes of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These include topics like:

• Energy Access
• Energy Security
• Air Pollution
• Adverse Effects and Ancillary Risks
• Energy Efficiency
• Financing

Next Steps for the Community

Join the GBSN for Energy Transition Impact Community as we convene practitioners and academia from the global north and global south as we explore the critical talent needs of a sustainable and low carbon energy economy, as well as the role of business schools in supporting a transitioning workforce.