An
energy deficit has effectively stunted Africa’s development, with an estimated
70 percent of people in sub-Saharan Africans without reliable access to
electricity.
In
Gabon and Nigeria for example, manufacturing struggles as electricity remain
costly and inconsistent. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB),
manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa experience an average of 56 days of
shutdown time per year due to power outages.
Fossil
fuel-based power generation is the most expensive form of energy globally, yet
it is the largest source of electricity generation in Africa. This is the least
of concern for a continent simply trying to boost its total power capacity from
the current 147 GW, according to the African Development Bank, which is
equivalent to the total capacity installed in Belgium, and what China installs
every one to two years.
According
to the International Energy Agency (IEA), sub-Saharan Africa will require more
than $30 billion in investment to achieve universal electricity by 2030. Rural
sub-Saharan Africa will require the vast amount of the funds, with more than 85
percent of those living in rural areas lacking access to reliable electricity.
An
emerging concern for carbon emissions and sustainable development has created
an opportunity for renewable energy on the continent. Recognizing the
opportunity and challenges, regional bodies, including the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS), have developed rural renewable energy
development agendas. ECOWAS member countries have established the Center for
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), forming strategic development
pacts with several international organizations that includes the United Nations
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO). ECOWAS members target nearly 20 percent for
the renewable makeup of energy by 2030, which include off-grid electricity serving
25 percent of the rural population. The Southern African Development Community
(SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) recently agreed to create similar
regional renewable energy programs.
A
Guest Editorial
