African School of Regulation

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in the Context of Utility Regulation
2025-12-03 13:00 - 14:45 UTC
The African School of Regulation (ASR), in collaboration with the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Energy for Growth Hub, hosted this webinar on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in the context of utility regulation. The session introduced PPAs as key tools for supporting Africa’s clean energy transition and attracting sustainable investment.

We explored the structure and essential components of PPAs, the role of regulatory oversight, and practical approaches to addressing challenges such as liquidity risks, tariff misalignment, and stranded capacity. The webinar also highlighted global best practices, including competitive procurement and renewable integration, and how they can be adapted to strengthen PPA frameworks across African power markets.

Can she survive - or thrive? Rethinking the utility business model in the age of DERs
2026-02-04 14:00 - 15:30 (Africa/Accra)
The Africa School of Regulation (ASR), in collaboration with Sustainable Energy Africa and GET.transform, is hosting this webinar to explore how Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are reshaping utility service delivery, remuneration, and regulation.

The Challenge

For over a century, utilities operated on a simple model: supply electricity to passive consumers and recover costs through tariffs. Today, that model is under pressure. Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), from rooftop solar to battery storage are transforming how electricity is produced, consumed, and valued.

Across Africa, this shift meets a fragile foundation. Distribution companies already face financial strain from low-cost recovery and high losses. DERs could deepen these challenges by reducing sales volumes and disrupting revenue flows. Yet, they also offer opportunities: new sources of flexibility, reliability, and grid support if properly valued.

This raises a critical question: Can the traditional utility model survive—or even thrive—in a decentralised energy landscape?

About the Webinar

This session will open a forward-looking conversation on how DERs are reshaping utility service, remuneration, and regulation. It will explore:

How DERs disrupt traditional cost-recovery models

What fair value exchange looks like in a multi-actor system

How tariff and remuneration frameworks must evolve

Designed for regulators, utilities, policymakers, and energy professionals, the webinar will challenge long-standing assumptions and set the stage for practical solutions in future capacity-building programs.

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Fit-for-Purpose Regulation
2026-02-18 13:00 - 14:30 UTC
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Utility regulation has evolved dramatically over the past five decades from prescriptive, compliance-driven frameworks to dynamic, performance-oriented models shaped by liberalization and market reforms. Today, African regulators face a new challenge: designing frameworks that are fit for purpose, tailored to the realities of diverse sectors, jurisdictions, and developmental stages.

This webinar will unpack what “Fit-for-Purpose Regulation” means in practice and why it matters for Africa’s utility sectors. It will explore how regulatory frameworks can balance rigor with flexibility, foster innovation, and respond to emerging trends such as decentralization, digitalization, and regional integration.

Why Attend?

Understand the principles and applications of Fit-for-purpose regulation.

Learn practical approaches for tailoring frameworks to national and regional contexts

Gain insights into institutional strengthening and stakeholder engagement

Explore lessons and emerging practices from African regulatory institutions

Agenda:

13:00 – 13:05 | Welcome & Opening Remarks

13:05 – 14:20 | Interactive Discussion on Fit-for-Purpose Regulation

14:20 – 14:30 | Closing Reflections

International online conference: Regulatory frameworks for the deployment and integration of solar energy in the power sector of African countries
2026-02-24 14:00 - 2026-02-26 16:00 UTC
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The African School of Regulation (ASR), in collaboration with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), is hosting a three-day, open, online, high-level conference to discuss how regulation can enable and promote the deployment and integration of solar electricity generation in African countries’ power sectors at scale and with sustainable models. The conference will consider utility-scale power plants, distributed grid-connected solar resources, and off-grid solutions, with a focus on the former.

Context

Africa possesses some of the richest solar resources in the world.1 Yet, despite this potential, as of 2023 the continent’s installed utility-scale solar PV capacity stood at approximately 15 GW—less than 2% of the global total of over 1 TW.2 By comparison, the European Union alone had over 260 GW3, and China more than 500 GW4.

Africa’s electricity demand is expected to more than double by 2040, driven by population growth—from 1.4 billion today to 2.5 billion in 2050—and economic development. More than 600 million people in Africa lack any access to electricity today. Solar PV represents a critical opportunity to deliver affordable, clean, and scalable power to meet the associated demand. Falling technology costs—utility-scale PV levelized cost of electricity has dropped by 89% since 2010 globally —make it competitive with fossil fuel generation in many African countries.

However, achieving full electrification, adequate economic development, and a decarbonised economy by 2050 will require hundreds of billions of dollars in new investments, as well as operation and maintenance costs for solar PV generation. These investments must be supported by predictable regulatory frameworks that inspire confidence among developers, financiers, and utilities. A sound regulatory framework for solar generation is essential at all levels.

Conference program

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Speakers bio

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Presentations

Present situation of investment, business modelsand regulation of solar electricitygeneration in African countries,bySaachi Singla, Private Sector Specialist, ISA. Download the presentation

Regulation as enabler, promoter or obstacle to solar electricity generation in Africancountries, by Dr. Charly Gatete, Director of Research, ASR. Download the presentation

Conference Recordings

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Accelerating Universal Adoption of Clean Cooking in Africa
2026-04-15 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
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Co-organised by the Institute of Research in Technology (IIT-Comillas University) and the African School of Regulation (ASR), this webinar will introduce the new course, “New Approaches to Accelerate the Universal Adoption of Clean Cooking.”

Despite global commitments under SDG 7, progress toward universal access to clean cooking remains slow—particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a significant share of the population continues to rely on polluting fuels and technologies. This session will highlight the scale of the challenge and its far-reaching health, environmental, and socio-economic impacts.

Participants will gain insights into innovative technical, regulatory, financial, and planning approaches that can support the large-scale and sustainable adoption of clean cooking solutions. Bringing together policymakers, practitioners, investors, and development partners, the webinar will provide a platform to exchange perspectives and foster collaboration toward practical, scalable solutions.

The session will also present the upcoming four-week online course, designed to equip participants with the tools and knowledge to drive real-world action.

What You Will Learn

The current state of clean cooking access in Sub-Saharan Africa and key barriers to progress

The health, environmental, and socio-economic impacts of traditional cooking methods

Innovative technical, regulatory, and financial approaches to scaling clean cooking solutions

Practical strategies and tools to support national planning and implementation

How the upcoming course can support your work and professional development

Who Should Attend

Government ministries and regulatory authorities

Energy utilities and national clean-cooking task forces

Private-sector companies and technology providers

Development partners and international organisations

Researchers, consultants, and civil society actors

Register Now

Join us to explore practical pathways for accelerating clean cooking adoption and be among the first to learn about this new training opportunity.

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