REPORTS

Africa faces an enormous energy challenge. Its growing population and economic progress has sent energy demand soaring. This calls for a rapid increase in supply on the continent, to which all forms of energy must contribute in the decades ahead. Africa therefore has a unique opportunity to pursue sustainable energy development as a basis for long-term prosperity.

Africa is richly endowed with fossil-based and renewable energy sources. However, a continued reliance on oil and gas along with traditional biomass combustion for energy will bring considerable social, economic and environmental constraints. Tackling today’s energy challenge on the continent, therefore, requires a firm commitment to the accelerated use of modern renewable energy sources.

Countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa are leading this effort, while some of Africa’s smaller countries including Cabo Verde, Djibouti, Rwanda and Swaziland have also set ambitious renewable energy targets. Others are following suit, and renewable energy is on the rise across the continent.

Africa 2030, IRENA’s comprehensive roadmap for the continent’s energy transition, illuminates a viable path to prosperity through renewable energy development. Part of an ongoing global REmap 2030 analysis, Africa 2030 is built on a country-by-country assessment of supply, demand, renewable energy potential and technology prospects. It highlights possible roles for various renewable energy technologies across the five regions of Africa until 2030.

Africa can deploy modern renewables to eliminate power shortages, bring electricity and development opportunities to rural villages that have never enjoyed those benefits, spur on industrial growth, create entrepreneurs, and support increased prosperity across the continent. Modern renewables can also facilitate a cost-effective transformation to a cleaner and more secure power sector. 

Some technology solutions are relatively easy to implement but require an enabling environment, with appropriate policies, regulation, governance and access to financial markets. As a promising sign of things to come, several African countries have already succeeded in making steps necessary to scale up renewables, such as adoption of support policies, investment promotion and regional collaboration.

Africa 2030 builds on a large body of background studies developed in close co operation with African experts. With momentum building in support of renewable energy, IRENA is committed to further collaboration with governments, multilateral organisations and existing national, regional and global initiatives. By making the right decisions today, African countries can usher in a sustainable energy landscape for generations to come.