Africa
is indeed blessed with vast and untapped sources of energy that if taken into
consideration by so called government and leaders will help solve one of the
continents dying needs. Whiles most government has continually invested in
hydro-electric power, which falls heavily on rain pattern, the project has
worked and failed in some countries.
It
is high time they take a look at solar energy which some so called energy
experts will argue that is not viable despite the continents unlimited free
supply of sun. It is no doubt that they are just making unnecessary arguments
whiles their sister nations in Africa are making serious investment into the
venture. Even a partnership with some European nations and North Africa to
build the world’s largest concentrating solar power plant (CSP) using just 0.3%
of the Saharan Desert.
The
Desertec Foundation made up of scientists, businesses and government executives
lead the project which is now on hold due to issues being worked out among
partners. This however means other nations cannot embark on their own projects
in their back yards. This however needs a lot of support from government
instead of spending huge amounts on issues that will yield no positive results.
An
example is Morocco’s Solar Plan Project which has being regarded as one of the
world’s largest and ambitious solar energy project. This project when completed
will put them towards a path of secure and sustainable energy supply. Already
the country is the largest importer of fossil fuels in North Africa to generate
energy. The aim of the project is to generate 2 Giga Watts of solar energy by
2020 by building five solar power plants with modern solar thermal,
photovoltaic and concentrated solar power mechanism.
In
Ghana a British Energy firm has being issued a license to begin a solar
project. The giant 155-megawatt Nzema project will be one of the biggest in the
world if completed. Mere Power Nzema Limited a subsidiary of Mere Power UK and
Blue Energy is embarking on the project which plans to begin operation in 2015.
The project will see the installation of about 630,000 photovoltaic panels
making it the sixth largest in the world.
The
Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power is also embarking on a 10 Mega Watt Katsina
Wind Farm Project to boost electricity supply in the country which is one of
the worst in West Africa.
Democratic
Republic of Congo government is also attempting to harness the potential of the
Congo River by building the world’s largest hydroelectric project dubbed the
Grand Inga.
In
Central Namibia Soitec has installed a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV)
demonstrated plant in its isolated rural village of Usib near Rehoboth. The 25
kilo watt installation has been connected to the grid of national power
utility, NamPower and provides power to users including a school in its remote
region.
There
are other solar projects ongoing in other parts of Africa including South
Africa’s project Eskom project in Upington, Africa.
Ethiopia
is also developing its own renewable energy. The country which is one of the
largest in Africa is also one of the driest. Due to this most of its land is
unsuitable for agricultural production, causing the government to shift its
focus to biodiesel crops that flourish under the harsh climatic conditions of
Ethiopia
There
are more than 62 million acres of land available in Ethiopia suitable for
biodiesel crop farming, which if fully developed, would make Ethiopia the
largest biodiesel producer in the world.
In
recent years, we have seen efforts to increase clean energy output, with the
North African nations leading in solar and wind categories, Kenya in
geothermal, and Ethiopia in bio-crops. Once developed, the alternative energy
output from Africa could supply all of Europe and the African continent with
clean inexpensive energy.
The
continent of Africa is endowed with vast untapped clean energy sources if
funded and given needed attention will put an end to the continents constant
growing population and need of energy.
Guest
editorial
“The
future is green energy, sustainability, renewable energy.”
Arnold
Schwarzenegger