19th ESEIA Lecture | Energy System Modelling for Green Africa
8 October 2026 | 19.00 – 21.00 (CET) | Registration is now open
Co-Organisers: ESEIA and TU Graz, EMERGE
Invited Lecture: Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes, Afrilabs, NG
1st response: Charles Diarra, ECREEE, CV
2nd response: Goran Krajacic, U Zagreb, FSB, HR
Chair: Lothar Fickert, TU Graz, AT
Host: Andrea Höglinger, Vice-Rector, TU Graz, AT
Abstract:
Energy system modelling is essential for guiding clean energy transitions, yet most frameworks are not well suited to African contexts. As countries accelerate renewable deployment and electrification, there is a growing need for locally relevant tools and stronger modelling capacity.
This lecture focuses on the specific needs of African countries in pursuing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient energy transitions. It highlights key challenges, including data scarcity and the gap between modelling outputs and policy implementation. Drawing on Africa–Europe collaboration and the EU funded EMERGE project, the session showcases examples of tools that support national planning, enhance decision-making, and enable more effective investment strategies for a green African transition.
Invited Lecturer:
Nanko Madu, Director of Programs, AfriLabs, NG
Nanko Madu is the Director of Programs at AfriLabs, the largest network organisation of technology and innovation hubs in Africa, leading the organization’s design and implementation of programmes focused on building the African tech and innovation ecosystem through the deployment of capacity building and improvement strategies targeted at hubs, startups, innovators, SMEs as well as women and youths. She is a mentor, innovation ecosystem builder, international public speaker and advisor.
First Response:
Charles Diarra, Coordinator of the Energy Efficiency Program, ECREEE, CV
Charles Diarra is the Coordinator of the Energy Efficiency Program of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), where he is designing and implementing the ECOWAS energy efficiency activities: Energy Efficiency Policy, Energy Efficiency in buildings, industry, standards, and labels, energy nexus water, clean cooking solutions. Prior he was the Head of the Energy Efficiency Programme of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.
Second Response:
Goran Krajačić, Associate Professor, University of Zagreb, HR
Goran Krajačić holds the role of an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture at the University of Zagreb since 2019 and has extensive experience in the field of energy and sustainable development. Since 2023, he has been an associate of the Croatian Academy of Engineering and vice president of ESEIA. He also acts as Working Group leader of ESEIA’s Working Group 2: Energy Transition in Urban Regions.
Chair:
Lothar Fickert, TU Graz, AT
Lothar Fickert headed the Institute for Electrical Systems at Graz University of Technology from 1998 to 2017. He is also active in various national and international organisations. In addition to his national and international activities, he is the author of 211 technical articles, holds 8 patents and numerous awards and prizes. Since then, he has been increasingly active in his original field, that of electrical protection technology, in university and public spaces. As a guest lecturer, he also contributes to university students’ electrical engineering education.
Host:
Andrea Höglinger, Vice Rector for Research, TU Graz, AT
An
drea Höglinger has been Vice Rector for Research at TU Graz since October 2023. She was head of European and International Programmes (EIP) at the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) since 2011 and acted as the coordinating national contact point for Horizon Europe and is active in numerous EU programmes and initiatives. Andrea Höglinger graduated in social and economic sciences from the University of Vienna. She is also a member of WISIA “Women in Science”.
Abstract:
Aviation is responsible for over 2% of global CO₂ emissions, and decarbonising it is challenging. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) offer the most promising near‑term solution – but can bioresources deliver at scale without competing with food and feed production or natural ecosystems? This lecture examines feedstock availability, key conversion technologies, lifecycle emissions, and the economic realities of scaling up. We also explore the policy frameworks and innovation ecosystems needed to move SAF from pilot projects to commercial reality. The EU ToFuel project, which converts tomato waste into SAF, serves as a concrete example of regional circular bioresource utilisation.
Invited Lecturer:
Dusita De Hoop, Senior R&D Analyst, SkyNRG, NL
Dusita De Hoop is Senior R&D Analyst at SkyNRG. She has a background in chemical engineering from Delft University of Technology and work experience in the petrochemical industry on topics of decarbonization. After finishing her Engineering Doctorate in process and equipment design, Dusita De Hoop joined SkyNRG in 2023. Her role focuses on the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through research on prospective feedstocks and novel SAF production technologies with key areas of interest in pathways using biomass. She is involved in multiple R&D projects on novel SAF production pathways and SAF certification.
First Response:
Katja Patzsch, Head of the Innovation Field Industrial Biotechnology, Fraunhofer IGB, DE
Katja Patzsch is the acting head of the Innovation Field Industrial Biotechnology since 2020 and is the group leader of the Bioprocess scale-up since 2012 at Fraunhofer IGB (Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology). She studied Biochemical Engineering at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and has a PhD in engineering. In 2009 she joined Fraunhofer IGB and supported both the construction of Fraunhofer CBP (Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes) and the engineering and building processes of the biotechnological equipment.
Second Response:
Giorgio Lecchi, Industrial Director, Mutti S.p.A, IT
Giorgio Lecchi is Industrial Director of Mutti S.p.A. with extensive experience in the food processing sector. He has held senior leadership positions at Mutti, where he served as Director of Operations and R&D Manager, overseeing manufacturing operations, innovation, efficiency, and sustainability initiatives. His expertise spans industrial operations, value-chain optimisation, food technology, and the implementation of smart manufacturing practices in the agri-food industry.
Chair:
Markus Lehner, Head of Chair, Process Technology & Industrial Environmental Protection, Montanuniversität Leoben, AT
Markus Lehner is professor and head of the chair of process technology and environmental protection at Montanuniversity Leoben since 2010. Markus Lehner studied mechanical engineering with specialisation in chemical process engineering at TU Munich, where he also did his doctoral graduation. Since then, he held various positions in the industry, such as sales manager, engineering, and construction. His research interests and fields of activities are energy process engineering, thermal cracking, catalytic processes for CO2-utilisation, Power-to-Gas, and gas cleaning.
Host:
Andrea Höglinger, Vice Rector for Research, TU Graz, AT
Andrea Höglinger has been Vice Rector for Research at TU Graz since October 2023. She was head of European and International Programmes (EIP) at the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) since 2011 and acted as the coordinating national contact point for Horizon Europe and is active in numerous EU programmes and initiatives. Andrea Höglinger graduated in social and economic sciences from the University of Vienna. She is also a member of WISIA “Women in Science”.