News DeskBarcelona, Spain – As African nations continue to tackle their unique energy challenges, GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) reaffirms its commitment to electrifying and decarbonizing the continent. GE Vernova will be a lead sponsor at the Africa Energy Forum, held in Barcelona from June 25-28, under the theme “Energy Systems of the Future – Balancing Africa’s Needs with Global Goals.” The event will convene key stakeholders, investors, and future leaders to discuss project developments, technology innovations, and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.
A recent report highlights that about 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, representing up to 50% of the region’s population, lack access to electricity. With power demand expected to grow by approximately 3% in 2024, the forum’s discussions will focus on balancing energy transition goals with the need for electricity availability. GE Vernova’s industry experts will participate in several sessions, including “Tackling Grid Challenges to Improve Energy Systems,” “The African Gas Conundrum: Is it a Transitional Enabler or Not?,” “Investing in Senegal: A World Class Energy Partner,” and “Leveraging New Technologies to Lower Emissions and Promote Balance Across Energy.”
Joseph Anis, President & CEO of Europe, Middle East & Africa for Gas Power at GE Vernova, emphasized the importance of a reliable and affordable electricity supply for societal progress. “Investing in reliable and affordable electricity generation is as critical as advancing lower carbon power to support health, connectivity, safety, security, and improved quality of life. Accelerating Africa’s energy transition efforts will require cross-sector collaboration among the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors; the strategic deployment of multiple energy sources, including renewables and gas power; and investments in the grid together with software solutions. These steps can enable substantive reductions in emissions quickly and at scale, while advancing the technologies for low or near-zero carbon power generation and helping to meet the continent’s growing energy needs,” he said.
GE Vernova, which spun off from GE and began trading independently on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on April 2, 2024, has a significant global presence with approximately 55,000 wind turbines and 7,000 gas turbines. The company plays a vital role in the energy transition, generating about 25% of the world’s electricity. In Africa, GE Vernova technologies account for up to 40% of installed power generation capacity and the company serves 260 customers across the continent. With a legacy of over 120 years in Africa, GE Vernova supports the development of critical infrastructure and works across the electricity value chain, from generation through various power sources, including wind, hydro, and gas, to providing transmission, distribution, and software solutions.
