Let's Talk About Energy

Former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo joins Elizabeth Wangeci Chege and Anant Wadhwa on Let’s Talk About Energy to explore Africa’s role in shaping the future of energy. The conversation covers pathways for climate-positive development, the role of youth in driving change, and the global impact of Africa’s energy strategy.

In this episode:

• Why Africa doesn't need to follow the same carbon-heavy development path as other regions
• How untapped renewable resources could support green growth across the continent
• Why involving Africa’s young population in energy planning is key to long-term success

Africa’s approach to energy will shape global sustainability efforts. Listen in to understand the stakes and the opportunities.

Elizabeth Wangeci Chege and Anant Wadhwa sit down with Helen Watts, the Executive Director of Student Energy, to explore the power of community and youth innovation in the transition towards clean energy. They discuss the role of Student Energy in empowering young leaders and look at the inventive methods young people all over the world are using to tackle energy challenges. 

Recorded at SEforALL’s Global Forum in Barbados, Helen, Elizabeth and Anant discuss:

• The importance of young people finding and engaging with communities both online and offline to amplify impact.
• How Student Energy facilitates youth leadership in clean energy through education and global networks.
• The barriers to funding for youth-led initiatives and how organizations like Student Energy are addressing this.

Hosts Elizabeth Wangeci Chege and Anant Wadhwa sit down with Emmanuel Aziebor, Senior Director for Africa at CLASP, to explore the urgency of achieving universal energy access, and why we can’t afford to leave this challenge to the next generation.

Speaking at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, Emmanuel shares his early memories of growing up in rural Ghana without electricity and how that sparked his passion for energy equity. We discuss innovations in energy-efficient appliances, clean cooking technologies, and the role of policy and finance in driving real change. Emmanuel also reflects on the role of Africa’s youth in shaping energy policy and implementation - and the importance of building solutions from the ground up.

From net-zero heroes to grassroots innovation, this is a powerful reminder that solving the energy access crisis is not just technical, it’s personal, and political. 

Elizabeth Wangeci Chege sits down with Souleymane Ba, an impact investment leader at Leapfrog Investments. Souleymane brings extensive experience in driving prosperity and resilience in emerging markets.      

They talk through the crucial role of investment in the transition to clean energy, the opportunities and challenges in emerging markets, and the importance of sustainable development for a healthy planet. “This is the biggest opportunity of our lifetime”, says Souleymane. Where is the money coming from and where does it need to go?

This episode was recorded at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, March 2025.

Elizabeth Wangeci Chege hosts two visionaries in sustainable energy, Gonzalo Bravo and Yasmeen Oraby, who explore the pivotal role of the energy transition in reshaping the future.

Recorded at the the SEforALL Forum in Barbados, they discuss the transformative strategies and stories from the Global South that are driven by solid data.

Gonzalo Bravo is Head of Energy Department at the Bariloche Foundation. His work involves developing long-term energy strategies in alignment with national commitments for sustainable development. He advocates for financial solutions to scale renewable energy and address energy access deficits, particularly in Africa, highlighting his commitment to advancing development in regions with the highest need. Yasmeen Oraby is Program Manager at the Economic Research Forum, and she works to deliver economic research to regional areas and empower youth and women in energy.

"Investment in affordable renewable energy and improving access to affordable energy is something that the world is focused on," said Lilia Burunciuc, Director of the World Bank for the Caribbean, to host Elizabeth Wangeci Chege in this episode of Let’s Talk About Energy. It’s a global issue, but there are plenty of success stories from the Caribbean.

Lilia and Elizabeth talk about global efforts to transition towards clean energy, highlighting some of the World Bank's most successful projects in the Caribbean: improving energy efficiency in public buildings and a St. Lucia initiative that cut government energy bills by 80%.

Elizabeth also discusses the importance of energy efficiency in buildings. They call for global collaboration and a more inclusive sector, working to provide everyone with a dignified life powered by sustainable energy.

This episode was recorded at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, March 2025.

Host Elizabeth Wangeci Chege talks with Jessica Lough, Executive Climate Strategy and Operations Leader at GE Vernova. Jessica discusses the company mission to electrify and decarbonise, with a focus on new technologies in carbon capture, direct air capture, hydrogen, and small modular reactors.

Jessica talks through GE Vernova's sustainability framework which is built around four pillars: conserve, decarbonise, electrify, and thrive. GE Vernova is pioneering renewable energy projects, informed by ongoing research and development. Hear how one of the most innovative energy companies is managing decarbonisation goals with rising energy demand.

This episode was recorded at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, March 2025.

Anant Wadhwa and Elizabeth Wangeci Chege talk with Dr Harikumar, Director of the Energy Management Center in Kerala, India, to explore the rapid developments in energy technology in the region, particularly in hydrogen and electric vehicles. In this episode, he discusses his 35 years in the energy sector, and his insights from the past few years of energy innovation.     

Despite improved efficiency, energy consumption and emissions are both rising. It’s a global issue, so what can be done in India where demand is soaring? Dr Harikumar highlights Kerala's policies and training programmes aimed at improving energy efficiency, with a particular focus on buildings. He stresses the importance of sustainable practices and respecting environmental resources, urging action towards greener energy use. Learn how he and his team are spearheading projects that are making Kerala’s buildings greener and cheaper.

This episode was recorded at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, March 2025.

In front of a panel of experienced clean energy investors, SEforALL invited three exciting entrepreneurs to pitch their solutions to the biggest problems we face in energy access and sustainability. From using sargassum seaweed in Barbados to fuel a critical industry, to deploying solar innovations in Nigeria and Honduras, these trailblazers share their innovative approaches and the impact of their projects.

Helen Watts, Executive Director of Student Energy, welcomes three visionaries: Paola Rodriguez Smith, General Manager of Soluz Honduras’ decentralized solar platform, Deborah Fadeyi, founder of Ecowise and their clean energy finance model for Africa, and Dr. Legena Henry’s Rum and Sargassum, a project pioneering biofuel made from marine biomass.

Which project will make the most impact? Which is the most economically viable? And who will walk away with the investment needed to take the project to the next level?

"The Latin American region is at 98% energy access, but it's clear that the approach and the investments that got you to 98 are not going to get you to 100," says Isabel Beltran, Vice President, Latin America & the Caribbean at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The GEAPP focuses on expanding energy access, fostering green economies, and supporting the energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean. Elizabeth and Anant sit down with Isabel to discuss her work and the role of global partnerships.

That's Latin America, but what about Africa? Caroline Eboumbou is CEO of All On, a leading impact funder in the renewable energy off-grid space in Nigeria, aiming to connect both the unserved and under-served populations to sustainable energy. The unserved and under-served are two groups for whom energy access is a major priority; Caroline explains how All On is working to get energy to them.

Finally, Anant and Elizabeth speak with Ashvin Dayal, Senior Vice President for Power at the Rockefeller Foundation, to discuss his work in leveraging public, private, and philanthropic partnerships to make a real impact.