Justice Interview: Nazih Toubal (Founder of Fracture Energy)

Nazih Toubal - Founder of Fracture Energy. Fracture Energy is a Brussels-based company that helps small companies and start-ups involved in alternative energy sources in Africa attract investment. Nazih agreed to become an expert in the field of alternative energy. He answered several questions in a language understandable to ordinary people. So that we can learn a little more about the real situation in the world from a person who every day solves issues in the field of renewable resources. We met with Nazih on Google Meet and we invite you to read our interview.

- What was the main challenge for renewables in 2021?

- The problem of ecology is not new for Europe. For decades people have been thinking about taking care of the environment. But, when Henry Ford sold his first car with an internal combustion engine in 1903, he did not think that in a hundred years the issue of ecology and harmful emissions into the atmosphere from his brilliant invention would become acute for mankind. It is also becoming difficult now to conduct business for such large fuel companies as Total, Shell and others. In 2021, the issue of ecology, pollution, and the transition to alternative energy sources is acute, because everyone knows that the resources of our planet are running out (we advise you to read about World Ecological Debt Day here https://www.interfax.ru/world/670805 - author's note). As for the targets, in 2021 in Europe the goal was to increase the energy received from alternative sources up to 20%, and by 2030 - up to 40%. At the end of 2021, the share of energy obtained by alternative means was 23%, that is, in Europe the goal was not only achieved, but even slightly exceeded. However, the EU will not be able to reach the 40% target on its own, which means they need help. This help can be found in Africa, that is, alternative energy will be created, for example, in Africa, where there is a lot of sun and wind, and supplied in the required quantities already to Europe. The example of the Desertec project is quite appealing, with only 1% of the Sahara desert that needs to be covered with PV solar panels to supply the total energy needs of Europe. The issue in African countries is their governmental instability and massive corruption which are sometimes encouraged by the western countries. It is perhaps for their own future benefit that the European countries should encourage peace and stabilization in North Africa in order for them to be able to achieve their climate goals and use of renewable energy. 

- What problem will need to be solved in 2022?

- Each country, each continent has its own potential for creating alternative energy. Somewhere a strong wind blows, somewhere there is a lot of sunshine. It is important to understand what potential a particular place has and how this potential can be applied. (For example, the strongest wind blows in the state of Oklahoma in the USA, Antarctica, the Southern Ocean and Barrow Island in Australia, and the strongest sun blows at the Eureka and Alert scientific stations located on the Canadian island of Ellesmere - author's note).

- Why is it now convenient to work with Africa in terms of extracting alternative energy?

- Africa is at a crossroads. The majority of the citizens of this vast and diverse continent, access to affordable, clean and sustainable energy remains an aspiration. The need for better and more abundant energy is evident, from households relying on dirty fuels for cooking and farmers lacking energy to harvest their crops, and from health clinics struggling to power operating rooms to businesses contending with power outages. Climate change is fast adding new challenges in the form of extreme weather events, rising temperatures and more variable rainfall. 

At Fracture Energy we have analyzed numerous reports and we know that renewable energy can help resolve many of these social, economic, health and environmental challenges. Renewables are key to overcoming energy poverty, providing energy services without damaging human health or ecosystems, and enabling sustainable socio-economic development. A transition to a renewables-based energy system in Africa promises substantial gains in GDP, employment, and human welfare in each of the continent’s constitutive regions.

Although Africa’s share of global renewable energy investments and capacity installations remained relatively small over the past decade, the continent can draw on a vast wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal resource potential. Falling costs are increasingly bringing renewables within reach, whether through grid extension, mini-grids or stand-alone applications.

- Are there any problems in regulations between companies and the government?

- There are problems with the giants. The case with huge companies is that they try to influence the European commission to allow nuclear energy being the ordered taxonomy. The taxonomy classifies a list of sustainable sources of energy that will help the energy transition and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 in the European continent. They try to pressure the government in order to accept the type of energy they are producing and sometimes it’s not climate friendly and it’s bringing a lot of damage to the environment. But the governments are kind of isolated and they need much more regulations for this type of situation.

- Which country can be called the most advanced in the field of renewable sources?

- As far as I know, among the countries of the European Union, Sweden occupies a leading position. In Sweden, in 2021, the share of sold electric vehicles exceeded the share of diesel cars (and in 2020, more than half of all electricity in the country was produced by hydroelectric power plants, wind farms or by processing waste from the forestry sector - note by the author). Also in Sweden, the state takes an active position in the field of ecology and in every possible way partially or completely sponsors the reorganization of the production and consumption of electricity.

- How can we help ordinary people of the planet to start the transition to renewable resources?

- When ordinary citizens understand exactly how to implement and use alternative energy, it will be easy for them to switch to it. That is, we can help by educating them. That is, the transition to alternative sources should be smooth, understandable and non-disturbing. When citizens understand all the actions, as well as why this is being done, as well as the current situation with the climate, there will be no more questions about the need to switch to alternative sources.