Addressing the conference Vicky Basson, CEO of KZN Energy, noted that Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its dependence on agriculture.  Challenges that need to be addressed include reduced agricultural production, worsening food security, floods and droughts, the spread of diseases and security of land and water.

Basson set the tone for the conference, by noting that ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and CMP 7, to be held in Durban in December 2011, Africa must ensure it is kept high on the agenda.

She noted that Africa has huge renewable energy resources - and has the greatest solar energy potential - but that projects are too few and far between.

She stressed the need for government to look towards renewable energy, put in place regulations to create an investor friendly environment and increase private sector involvement; and to encourage foreign direct investment for Africa's enormous renewable energy potential.

Sharon Kedmi, Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, shared his country's renewable energy strategy, which is based on innovation.

The strategy, aimed at making a greener Israel while increasing the engines of growth, has been very successful, he said. Laws implemented in recent years include clean air laws, packaging laws, chemicals registration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These are aimed at achieving a 20% reduction below business as usual by 2020.

There is also a move to natural gas after resources were discovered offshore Israel that could potentially last for 50 years.

Kedmi added his government's aim was to develop Israel as hotbed of green technology innovations and added that Africa has huge potential for renewable energy innovation.

Xolile Mabusela, Director: Energy Efficiency and Environment at the SA Department of Energy, stressed the need for Africa to invest heavily in infrastructure and access to modern energy in order for the continent to alleviate high poverty levels and address the serious socio economic challenges it faces.

He said Africa needs to use all the energy resources available to it, but environmental issues need to be taken into account. He said future investment in renewable energy needs a sustainable political framework.

Mabusela pointed out that there are only 57 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects registered in Africa - and that the continent is lagging far behind the rest of the world.

He urged businesses to identify CDM projects and to register these and stressed that government and the private sector must work together to unlock the CDM market in Africa.

He pointed out that Germany and Spain have growing economies and have created jobs through the development of solar and wind projects.

"SA is not prepared to let the grass grow under its feet - it must reap the rewards of the CDM projects," he said.

During a panel discussion, speakers stressed the need for implementing sound support mechanisms for renewable energy projects and a stable regulatory system. A recurring theme was the need to create the correct framework to attract investment.

Kedmi said that if the private sector is to invest large amounts of money in renewable energy projects, then it needs stable, firm and understood policies. He also stressed the need for government and private sector partnerships.  Capacity building is key, he said.

Simon Rolland, Secretary General of the Belgian-based Alliance for Rural Electrification, noted that a major challenge in Africa was the  electrification of rural areas. He noted that renewable energy could offer solutions for almost every need and for every location in Africa. He said the main barriers in Africa were access to finance and the necessary supporting policies and frameworks.

African government also need to give a clear signal in developing their renewable energy policies setting out where they are going and the role that nuclear energy played in the policy.

SA is rushing to get renewable energy projects off the ground before the conference in Durban later this year. Egypt and Morocco have aggressive wind energy policies, but these are still in the transition phase, and in West Africa there are various projects for electrification using renewables.