EnerTracks Alumni Newsletter - 09/2024

Training News & Highlights

• September - The final Hydrogen & PtX Training is taking place in Berlin! Over two weeks, participants will dive into the technological, political, and economic aspects of hydrogen, map their country’s policy landscape, and develop tailored recommendations—emerging as future leaders in their country's energy transition.

• October - We are developing our first ever training to train future trainers. A lot of training, right? We love that! This training will be piloted as a 3-day in-person format in Bangkok with partner organisations from the region.

  • Our Southeast Asia colleagues teamed up with our Hydrogen colleagues in Berlin to co-create the three-day training Powering the transition: Understanding the role of renewable energy, hydrogen and electrification in phasing out fossil fuels also piloted this October. During a packed full three days, participants will learn to identify the importance of renewable energy deployment as the primary strategy for decarbonisation, supporting electrification and the development of a renewable hydrogen economy amongst many other topics. The cohort for this has already been selected.

  • The first of two cohorts for the online training on Unlocking Net-Zero Steel will take place end of October – a real trial by fire that is making us remember the online Study Tour-days! Interested to join? Check out the details here and apply!

• November - The second online training on Unlocking Net-Zero Steel will take place mid-November.

Kajol

Institutional Affiliation: Agora Industry

Team Training: What is the first thing you remember when you think of the Fellowship you did in 2020 at Agora? 

Kajol: One of the best things about my experience was the office location and its vibrant atmosphere. The office had a great view, and we often shared the space with colleagues who brought their pets, creating a welcoming environment. We also had fun traditions, like snack days with chocolates on Tuesdays and "Thank God It's Friday" gatherings with drinks and snacks. My six-week experience was filled with intense learning but offered flexibility to work on my chosen project and network with like-minded individuals, including speakers, fellows, and experts from various sectors like wind energy and organizations working on the coal phase-out. I remember the fellowship as a well-planned and engaging experience.

Team Training: In January, you joined the Agora Industry team to work on climate-neutral industry in Southeast Asia. What have you been working on since you joined Agora?

My current focus is on advancing climate neutrality in Southeast Asia's industrial sector. After five years of working in the energy sector within the region, Agora is now expanding to address key industries like steel, aligning their targets with national and international sustainability goals.

While our previous work was primarily EU-focused, we're now shifting to a broader, international perspective. Given Southeast Asia's heavy reliance on fossil fuels, we are analysing how to promote low-carbon technologies and develop strategies tailored specifically to the region. Our initial focus is on decarbonizing the steel sector, but we plan to expand to other energy-intensive industry sector as well.

To achieve this, I am actively engaging with stakeholders, including industry associations, NGOs, and think tanks, to build a collaborative community working towards climate neutrality. Our upcoming online training on green steel will provide insights into unlocking a net-zero steel sector and promoting sustainable practices.

Team Training: You mentioned it: you’re currently developing an online training on Green Steel. Could you share more about this project and what you hope it will achieve?

Yes, this is very exciting. This project and the training are part of a larger initiative focused on transforming the steel sector in Southeast Asia. Currently, the region heavily relies on fossil fuel for its steel production, with substantial investments still going into conventional, fossil fuel-based technologies like blast furnaces. With steel consumption showing an upward trend there is an urgent need to align regional strategies with global climate targets, particularly the 1.5-degree climate neutrality goal.

We realized that despite its importance and the quickly closing strategic window, so far very little advocacy work is being done on decarbonizing the steel industry in the region. It is still a novel topic for many organisations, and we see a need for raising awareness on what’s already possible technologically and what the potential economic and other benefits of a transition to green steel are.

To bridge this gap and harness NGOs/civil society organizations in Southeast Asia to advocate for impactful regulations and policies, I’ve been working closely with the Training Team to develop an interactive training program which we think can really move the needle! 

We are piloting it for Southeast Asia, but I hope we’ll be able to also role it out for participants from other regions in the future.

Team Training: Looking at present and future, what is the difference that you want to make with your work? 

There isn't just one focus for our work; we're tackling multiple challenges in Southeast Asia's energy-intensive industries. Our efforts include mapping out these industries, engaging stakeholders, monitoring consumption, and analysing policies. We need all hands-on deck so the goal is to build an ecosystem that supports climate-neutral industries, which requires immediate action.

Our aim is to empower local and regional think tanks, especially in smaller countries, to amplify their voices alongside larger nations like China and India. These smaller countries often struggle to be heard, so we want to create a platform where they can collaborate and advocate for industrial transition and climate goals.

This project seeks to provide opportunities for local communities and businesses, ensuring that no one is left behind during the green transition. It's crucial that these nations not only participate in regional discussions but also have a voice in global conversations about climate finance, just transition and resilience. The goal is to help vulnerable countries, which face significant climate risks, gain the support they need for a sustainable future.

Personally, I am focusing on learning more about the Southeast Asia region, being more vulnerable to climate change. I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the fast-industrialising countries to address climate challenges in the region, which is an exciting opportunity for me.