The Energy Tech Summit, held at the iconic Kraftwerk Berlin, offered delegates a powerful lesson from history. The venue, built by the East German government in 1961, was a stark reminder of the consequences of division and the urgent need for global cooperation in the face of the energy crisis.
Former president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, warned against the dangers of political parties promoting isolationism in a globalized world. He highlighted the €60 billion spent by the European Union in subsidies during the recent energy price spike, emphasizing the need for a structural change in the energy market.
Solutions to this challenge were discussed on stage, including Octopus Energy’s Fan Club Tariff, which offers discounts to customers living near wind farms. Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, also introduced their community connection platform, Winder, which matches communities with wind turbines.
Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, envisioned a future where the world drives electrically, while Luo Xi, head of project development at Geidco, proposed a global grid connecting 80 countries with smart grid technology and renewable resources.
Aaron Ubaa, energy system engineering manager at Starsight Power, shared how renewables are bringing stability to Nigeria’s power supply, but emphasized the need for policy changes to incentivize investment in the sector.
The day also featured inspiring talks from Pritzker Prize-winning architect Francis Kéré, who shared his innovative solutions for sustainable building in Burkina Faso, and Niclas Dahl, managing director of Oceanbird, who discussed the potential of wind-powered cargo ships.
Overall, the Energy Tech Summit showcased the potential for renewable energy to drive global progress and emphasized the importance of international collaboration in achieving a sustainable future.