Off-Grid: When Will Off-Grid PV Follow the Affordability Trend?

Benjamin Knödler is the Head of Private Sector Engagement at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Before assuming his current position, he coordinated the Ministry's team of climate negotiators and served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the German Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In previous assignments, he worked on shaping multilateral policies: As Senior Policy Advisor in the German Development Ministry's G7 presidency team, as Advisor to the German Executive Director at the World Bank Group, and as Advisor to two consecutive German Development Ministers. Before joining the Ministry in 2007 as desk officer for Mozambique and Zimbabwe, he participated in a post-graduate training programme on international development. Benjamin holds a Master's degree in Economics.

Lea Dunst holds two Master's degrees from the University of Freiburg and Sciences Po University of Aix-en-Provence, with a strong background in international relations and climate policy. Since 2015, she has worked in various capacities for NGOs, international organizations and consultancies. Before joining BSW-Solar, she managed international cooperation projects on climate adaptation at the consulting firm adelphi. In early 2022, Ms. Dunst started her current position at the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar). Since then, she has been actively involved in the management of events such as the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue and the "Women Energize Women" conference, as well as in studies and cooperation projects focusing on solar energy, especially in Africa.

Dr Rethabile Melamu is a sustainability professional who is trained in Chemical and Environmental Engineering. She has almost two-decade experience in the areas of clean energy, green economy, water and sanitation, environmental sustainability, enterprise development, and life cycle assessments. She also has a depth of understanding in the adoption of innovative climate smart technologies in in developing country context. This is backed by experience of running a technology innovation-based incubation programme for almost 6 years. Moreover, she is experienced in developing public sector policies and have led the development of sub-national energy and green economy strategies and facilitated their implementation. She sits on several boards and advisory committees of private, academia and the public sectors organisations including as the Chairperson of the Water Research Commission and a Trustee of the Mandela-Rhodes Foundation. She is a thought leader in her areas of expertise, having published reports, thought leadership pieces and academic articles on several platforms. In 2019, she was recognised by the national Mail & Guardian newspaper as one of Women Who Are Changing South Africa in the Public Sector.

David Wedepohl first came into contact with the solar industry while working for a US consulting firm before joining the German Solar Industry Association as Head of Market and Communications and spokesperson for the association. Today, he is responsible for all of the association's international activities outside of the EU. This now includes projects and partnerships in and with Africa, Latin America, Asia and the USA. He is a broadcast journalist trained at the international broadcaster Deutsche Welle and has studied and worked on both sides of the Atlantic. He earned his US degree as a Fulbright Scholar. He gained professional experience as a press and public diplomacy officer at the German Embassy in Washington, DC, and in the communications department of DaimlerChrysler AG. Since 2023, he has also been Managing Director of the non-profit branch of the solar and storage sector, BSW-Solar gGmbh.

Felix Boldt is CEO of Solarworx GmbH, a leading manufacturer of standalone solar systems and DC Mesh grids. As a Renewable Energy Engineer, Felix has over a decade of experience in the solar off-grid sector across sub-Saharan Africa. He has worked in more than 10 countries, with a current focus on Zambia, Nigeria, and South Africa. With extensive expertise in the wind and solar industries, Felix is dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions in emerging markets.