Africa’s shift toward distributed and decentralised energy resources is being framed as an investment story as much as an energy one, opening commercial space that young Africans could fill through fresh thinking, innovation and technical skills. That was the core message from Dladla during a panel discussion titled Future of the Grid: Powering a Sustainable Tomorrow, held at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town.
For investors and operators watching the continent’s power markets, the argument carries clear economic logic. The evolving grid will only translate into viable business opportunity if capital flows into skills development, stronger local manufacturing and programmes that let young Africans build solutions suited to the continent’s own needs. Dladla emphasised that realising this potential depends on exactly that combination of human capital and industrial capability.
“What excites me about the future of the grid is the opportunity it creates for young people. We are talking to the leaders of tomorrow, and the evolving grid provides them with the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution and innovate,” she noted. In her view, renewable energy is fundamentally a story about technology and creativity, and she argued that young minds are needed to bring different perspectives, challenge existing thinking and show what is possible.
The panel’s discussion of industrial capability placed particular weight on localisation. Dladla stressed that technological advancement must go hand in hand with developing the skills and industrial capacity needed to support Africa’s long-term growth. “We need to look at skills development and manufacturing together. If we want to localise more of what we produce and build stronger industrial capabilities across Africa, we need the right skills and the right people,” she said.
Meanwhile, she flagged the role of partnerships with international organisations and institutions in building those capabilities, while arguing that such collaboration must create pathways for young people to bring skills back to their own countries and contribute to rebuilding and growing local industries. For market watchers, the framing suggests that returns on grid investment are tied to whether local supply chains and workforces can absorb and sustain new technology.
Digitalisation formed a further strand of the economic case. Dladla pointed to artificial intelligence as a complement to manufacturing and skills development, one that can improve productivity, streamline processes and support more efficient local production. The panel also examined energy efficiency and smarter energy management as levers for more sustainable electricity systems.
Dladla highlighted the progress industrial organisations have already made in improving energy efficiency and building renewable energy capabilities, and raised the question of how those gains could reach surrounding communities. She encouraged greater consideration of how businesses can contribute where they operate, extending the value of energy solutions beyond individual facilities. “Energy should also be about shared progress. If businesses are finding ways to improve their energy efficiency and make greater use of renewable energy, we should also be asking how those benefits can extend to the communities around them,” she said.
The One Young World Summit, which brings together young leaders from more than 190 countries to exchange ideas and explore solutions to pressing global challenges, concludes today, 6 November. Schneider Electric is one of the main sponsors of the event, a sponsorship that reflects its stated commitment to empowering the next generation and advancing a more sustainable and inclusive energy future. Further coverage of the summit and the grid discussion is available at https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/africa-grid-evolution-is-opportunity-for-young-people-962974a.