In response to the threat of climate change, the global community has recognized the need to for collective efforts across the globe to facilitate cooperation, advance knowledge, and promote the adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy. These actions aim to not only counter the effects of climate change but also reduce the speed of global warming.
With the advent of more climate-friendly policies, advocacy, and studies, it has been increasingly clear that the investment and adoption of renewable energy is a crucial path for the sustenance of a more stable global temperature as it is going to reduce the dependence on fossil fuel which is one of the major contributors of carbon emission in the world.
Africa is at a disadvantage in the evolution to renewable energy as the continent has only received two percent of global investments in renewable energy over the last two decades. Even with little access to financial support for investing in renewable energy, the continent has made promising strides in renewable energy development, some of these strides are driven by collaborative efforts among its nations.
The continent has identified the promises of the growing energy sector and how it can also foster regional cooperation and economic growth. There has been a gradual growth of solar parks in the Sahara and the use of hydroelectric dams on the Congo River to generate renewable energy for the rising population around the continent for domestic and industrial use.
The continent has an abundance of sunlight, wind resources and immense hydroelectric potential. The continent mostly depends on fossil fuel for generating electricity but some African countries are transitioning to renewable sources to diversify their energy mix and reduce dependence on imported fuels. This transition to renewable energy is not entirely about the environment but also about the energy security and economic advantages that come with renewable energy.
Collaboration among African nations has been pivotal in the transition to renewable energy projects across the continent. Collectively utilizing renewable energy leverages diverse resources and expertise to fix the infrastructure challenges and take advantage of economic opportunities. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has invested about US $8.3 billion in energy commitments from 2016 to 2022, and 87 percent of these commitments were directed towards renewable energy projects.
The AfDB’s Desert to Power Initiative is on a mission to generate over 10 thousand MW of solar energy across the Sahel region, spanning from Senegal to Chad. The World Bank’s Distributed Access with Renewable Energy Scale Up (DARES) Platform has fostered collaboration across the World Bank, IFC, MIGA and development partners to accelerate decentralized renewable energy (DRE) access in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam located on the Blue Nile River, represents a monumental effort in hydropower generation. Although there were some tensions at the early stage of the dam, it has brought about diplomacy and support from the neighbouring countries. The Lake Turkuna Wind power plant is another remarkable project in Africa. A wind farm that has formed partnerships between local communities and international investors.
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The transition to renewable energy transcends electricity; it also presents economic opportunities such as job creation, skills development, infrastructure improvement, enhancing socio-economic stability and resilience. The use of renewable energy reduces the dependence on fossil fuels and reduces the emission of carbon into the atmosphere and it mitigates the effects of climate change in Africa.
The continent is still constrained by limited financial resources, sector-friendly regulations and technical capacity for transitioning to renewable energy. There is an urgent need for commitments from governments, international organizations, and the private sector to actively engage in energy investment and innovation. More collaboration among African countries towards renewable energy will be a a major boost to the continent.
