Energy and Renewable Energy in Africa

Africa is a continent rich in diversity, resources, and untapped potential. However, the energy infrastructure in Africa needs to be developed, leading many people to rely on non-environmentally friendly sources of energy such as wood and charcoal. Despite this, Africa has seen some success in developing and expanding its energy infrastructure to serve more people and contribute to economic growth. Most African countries rely on traditional energy sources such as oil, natural gas, coal, and hydroelectric power to run their economies, making up about 80% of the continent's electricity production. Over the past few decades, the electricity demand has grown significantly due to the emergence of industries and population growth. The limited access to energy in Africa, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, is widely recognized as one of the main obstacles to its people's social and economic development.

In 2016, the International Energy Agency reported that a staggering 65% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is living without access to electricity, while 81% still rely on traditional energy sources for cooking and heating. Despite having the lowest greenhouse gas emissions in the world, the African continent is experiencing the severe impacts of climate change. In particular, regions like North Africa have seen the expansion of deserts, bringing both challenges and opportunities. These challenges can be addressed by promoting renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. This highlights the significant potential for Africa to become a major global player in the energy sector, provided that the necessary investments and support are available.

The limited access to electricity in Africa is a significant challenge, so the continent must rely on more expensive power generation methods. As a result, Africa must use all available resources, including coal, natural gas, and renewable sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power, to meet its electricity needs. In recent years, the continent's abundant natural resources have driven a concentrated effort to develop renewable energy sources. However, Africa's energy infrastructure development faces obstacles, including the dispersed rural populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, thus presenting substantial economic and technical challenges in establishing widespread electric grid connections despite the growing electricity demand.

In many parts of Africa, particularly in rural areas, households heavily rely on traditional biomass sources such as charcoal and wood for their daily energy needs, particularly heating and cooking. This reliance on biomass, while cost-effective, has led to unsustainable usage patterns, contributing to widespread deforestation and environmental degradation. Furthermore, the incomplete combustion of these biomass sources indoors has resulted in severe indoor air pollution, leading to significant health challenges for the population.

In the context of energy production, South Africa stands out for its heavy reliance on coal, a practice that has had far-reaching environmental consequences.

Extensive coal mining and utilization have polluted rivers and water sources, posing health risks to communities living near coal plants.

Meanwhile, in countries like Rwanda, the use of heavy oil for electricity generation presents unique challenges. With a lack of local oil production and refining capacity, these nations are vulnerable to the fluctuations of the international oil market, making energy security a significant concern.

In 2019, renewable energy sources represented approximately 19% of Africa's total electricity production, with hydroelectric power being the predominant source, followed by biofuels, solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The International Energy Agency assessed Africa's substantial untapped wind energy potential at over 300GW during the same period. However, the formidable cost of initiating new projects in countries such as Morocco, Kenya, and South Africa presents a significant hurdle. Notably, the expenses for these projects in the countries above range from $1600 to $3000, surpassing the costs of similar ventures in more developed nations such as India and China.

 Although Sub-Saharan Africa harbors significant potential for renewable energy, the region grapples with the challenge of inadequate sustained political will and commitment to establish requisite regulatory frameworks and modern techniques for its development. Many towns and urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa need more access to electricity due to unregulated tariff structures and the high costs associated with fossil-fuel-generated electricity. Thus, it is imperative to transition towards cleaner, sustainable, and possibly more cost-effective energy sources. However, this transition presents formidable challenges, including financial constraints and inadequate energy infrastructure. Consequently, a combination of renewable energy and traditional energy sources may be necessary to mitigate emissions and reduce electricity production costs.

Electrification and Energy Access in Africa

Undoubtedly, energy is critical for the economic well-being of any nation. The economic conditions in Africa differ across its geography, leading to varying economic realities on the continent. North Africa has higher access rates to electricity (80%) than Sub-Saharan Africa (less than 30%). In addition, urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa tend to have more access to electricity compared to rural areas. The inequality between the urban and rural areas reflects the historic under-investment in rural electricity infrastructure in many African countries.

African nations have undertaken significant initiatives to confront these challenges. Notably, they have implemented rural electrification programs bolstered by domestic and international support to enhance electricity accessibility in remote rural areas through off-grid solutions, such as solar homes and mini-grid systems. Furthermore, public-private partnerships have emerged as a pivotal strategy for stimulating investment and facilitating the expansion of energy infrastructure. International entities have also extended assistance to African nations through financial aid, technology, and expertise, thereby playing a critical role in advancing the objectives related to electricity accessibility.

Renewable Energy in Africa

Undoubtedly, renewable energy sources have proven to play a vital role in promoting environmental responsibility and addressing the challenges in energy access in Africa. African countries have adopted renewable energy, with Egypt being the largest electricity consumer from renewable sources, with a capacity exceeding 25,000 GWh. However, Africa still lags far behind other continents in renewable energy use, with Asia being the leader in the renewable energy sector. The following are the primary renewable sources of energy in Africa.

Hydro-power

Hydroelectricity is well known as a renewable and clean energy source, which is generated by transforming the energy of flowing water into electricity through electric turbines. Hydroelectricity generation is environmentally friendly and does not contribute to climate change through emissions. However, the development of hydroelectric dams can have negative consequences, such as the displacement of local people, sometimes with insufficient compensation. In 2019, the International Energy Agency reported that countries such as Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast had installed capacities of 0.2 GW, 0.209 GW, 1.292 GW, and 0.8 GW, respectively. The primary energy source in Kenya is hydro-power, with a capacity of at least 677MW. 

Over the next decade(s), the hydroelectricity capacity in Kenya is expected to increase to 1500MW because of the investment in multiple projects generating at least 20MW. The hydro-power generation capacities are distributed across various basins, such as the Tana River, Lake Victoria, Rift Valley, Ewaso Nyiro, and Athi River. This potential is expected to address the nation's energy needs and attain a more diversified energy mix. Hydro-power is famous for its ability to preserve the environment while producing electricity. As the continent faces a growing energy demand, many countries are investing in hydro-power to satisfy the needs of their populations. For instance, Tanzania is building the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectricity Project across the Rufiji River with a capacity of 2100MW. This will make the country one of the largest producers of hydroelectricity in the East African region.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is obtained from solar radiation and is exploited via devices such as photovoltaic panels to generate electricity. Africa is well endowed with solar resources that exceed daily electricity needs, such as household lighting, urban street lighting, water pumping, traffic lights, and community lighting in multiple African communities. Sub-Saharan Africa has high radiation intensity ranging from 4.0 to 7.0 kWh/m2, which is enough for domestic needs. Currently, nearly 2% of households in Kenya use solar energy television, lighting, and charging of electric devices. Although solar energy is yet to be prevalent economically, the rising prices of petrol and diesel are driving the adoption of solar energy to meet the energy demand in some places and homes. For example, solar home heating and cooling systems help reduce energy bills and eliminate the need for diesel generators.  Kenya has some areas, such as the northern regions, with impressive solar energy generation potential. For instance, the country unveiled the 75MW solar power plant in Garissa, which has helped the historically neglected northern regions access electricity.

Wind Energy

Wind power is generated by using wind generators to convert wind's kinetic energy into mechanical energy and, further, to electrical energy. Wind turbines are the main tools for capturing abundant wind-generated energy. Africa has a 9GW wind generation capacity, but if the necessary investments are made, this number can increase to 85GW by 2040. The utilization of this potential depends on key factors such as supportive policies, availability of suitable geographical areas, and well-established electric grid facilities.

Wind energy is clean energy, but its installation requires significant investment. Over the past few decades, wind power has played an increasing role in meeting the ever-growing global energy demand. For example, Kenya has a significant wind power generation capacity (436MW), approximately 16% of the nation's energy. Wind can also provide rural areas with sustainable energy, except in areas with low wind.

 Although wind power generation has increased globally, Africa has been slower than other continents in adopting it. Sub-Saharan Africa is still in the early stages of adopting wind and other renewable energy technologies, with countries such as Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia being the leaders. The support for wind energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) must be increased. Nonetheless, some SSA nations continue to use off-grid wind energy in remote villages for purposes such as water pumping using off-grid systems.

Geothermal Power

Geothermal energy generation is a process that generates electricity by converting thermal energy from the geological structures of the earth into electrical energy. Geothermal power, commonly called ground heat, is a sustainable and clean energy source. Heat extraction from geothermal reservoirs involves various methods, including wells that draw fluids with differing temperatures to the earth's surface. The fluids are then harnessed to generate electricity and perform multiple heat-related applications. Geothermal power systems use naturally harnessed steam from the world, eliminating the need for conventional boilers to produce steam for generating electricity. 

Only two countries are exploiting geothermal power in Africa, namely Kenya and Tanzania. Kenya is a prominent player in geothermal energy on the continent, producing 949MW of electricity. Kenya has a unique position in the Rift Valley's volcanic center, which gives it a significant, unexploited geothermal energy potential that ranges from 4,000 to 7,000 MW. This potential has attracted collaboration between the government and private investors to exploit the valuable resource for the country's economic growth. Kenya is an excellent example for many African countries with unexploited geothermal potential and already investing in other countries, such as Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

In Africa, the scarcity of essential renewable energy technologies presents a formidable challenge to adopting clean and sustainable energy practices. Several obstacles, including inadequate technologies, unsound government policies, insufficient financial support, high interest rates, political and economic instability, and limited levels of foreign direct investment, impede the continent's energy access.

Addressing these challenges demands a resolute commitment to advancing energy generation technologies. While nations such as India and China make significant strides in renewable energy, Africa must accelerate the deployment and integration of these technologies despite its abundant natural resources. Undoubtedly, renewable energy is pivotal in enhancing access to electricity and reducing associated costs across the continent, facilitating affordable electricity access for low-income populations. Furthermore, renewable energy holds promise for off-grid applications, particularly in remote rural areas. For instance, solar irrigation pumps, being more cost-effective than diesel pumps, offer substantial savings for farmers. Geothermal, wind, and solar energy are poised to emerge as indispensable energy sources in Africa's trajectory toward economic growth.

References

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