The HAVEN project was represented in Pretoria through the participation of RES4Africa Foundation, a partner in the consortium, at the Southern Africa Executive School, held from 21 to 25 July 2025 at the Future Africa Campus of the University of Pretoria. The pilot edition gathered more than 35 professionals from across Southern Africa, including representatives from key countries of the Mattei Plan, to strengthen technical and regulatory capacities in support of a just and sustainable energy transition.
Organised by RES4Africa in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, EWSETA and Africa GreenCo, and sustained by Enel Foundation, the programme offered two parallel training tracks, one focused on electricity sector regulation and finance, and the other on renewable energy integration and grid management. Participants engaged in sessions led by experts from academia, industry and international institutions, complemented by field visits to Eskom’s control centre and CSIR’s energy infrastructure facilities.
For HAVEN, the Executive School represented an important opportunity to engage with stakeholders working directly on renewable integration, grid flexibility and energy system transformation, areas that are central to the project’s future deployment and impact. Through RES4Africa’s participation, HAVEN was present in discussions that addressed the challenges and opportunities of modernising power systems in Southern Africa, including the role of storage, regulatory innovation and new business models to support clean energy uptake.
RES4Africa’s involvement also helped strengthen HAVEN’s visibility within a region where advanced storage solutions can play a decisive role in improving grid reliability and enabling higher shares of renewable energy. By contributing to capacity‑building efforts and regional dialogue, the project reinforces its commitment to supporting a fair and sustainable energy transition beyond Europe.
The Southern Africa Executive School concluded with strong positive feedback from participants and partners, highlighting the value of localised training and collaborative knowledge exchange. Through the presence of RES4Africa, HAVEN continues to build connections with energy leaders and institutions shaping the future of Southern Africa’s power systems.

