Following the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF), the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN‑SEC) will take part in the International Sustainable Energy Conference (ISEC) 2026, held 14–16 April 2026 at Messecongress Graz, Austria, under the theme “Renewable Heating and Cooling in Integrated Urban and Industrial Energy Systems.” 

The conference will feature a dedicated session on the unique GN-SEC network comprising ten regional canters owned by the regional economic communities (RECs) in Africa, Latin America and Caribbean, as well as Asia-Pacific. 

GN‑SEC Session: Accelerating Regional Just Energy Transition Investments

Session title: Accelerating Regional Just Energy Transition Investments in the Global South

Date & time: 15 April 2026, 14:00 (Messecongress Graz)

The session will spotlight how regional cooperation lowers investment risk and unlocks scalable, bankable solutions across the Global South. GN‑SEC centers support countries by harmonizing policies and standards, aggregating project pipelines, and facilitating access to blended finance and risk‑mitigation instruments. Two interactive panels will feature leaders from Africa and from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — including ECREEE, EACREEE, CEREEAC, SACREEE, RCREEE, REEECH/ICIMOD, PCREEE, CCREEE, and SICREEE/SICA — to share practical approaches to overcoming market fragmentation and advancing just, inclusive transitions.

ISEC 2026 Will Mark the Launch of new GN-SEC Solar Energy Programs 

ISEC 2026 will also mark the official launch of the SOLTRAIN PURE Programme, a new initiative promoting renewable heating and cooling for productive uses in West and East Africa, with pilot activities in Ghana and Uganda. The programme builds on more than 15 years of SOLTRAIN experience in Southern Africa and is implemented by UNIDO, AEE INTEC, ECREEE, EACREEE, and SACREEE, with funding support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

SOLTRAIN PURE will complement the second phase of the STAR‑C Solar Energy Capacity Building Programme, led by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in partnership with UNIDO. The STAR‑C Programme is funded by the Government of France and the European Union, and is part of the EU–India Trilateral Cooperation Programme as described in the EU–ISA STAR‑C project document. A delegation from ISA will attend ISEC 2026 to discuss partnerships with EU Centres of Excellence, including AEE Intec and the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling. 

Several project meetings with partners and regional centres are planned on the margins of ISEC to advance implementation roadmaps and collaboration arrangements.

Join GN‑SEC in Graz

GN‑SEC invites partners, policymakers, researchers, financiers, and stakeholders to attend its session, meet regional experts, and explore collaboration opportunities to accelerate just, inclusive, and climate‑resilient energy transitions across the Global South.

Further information: 

https://isec-conference.at/frontend/index.php [3] 

GN-SEC Session: Conference Schedule – ISEC 2026 - 4th International Sustainable Energy Conference [4]