A new report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) finds that the African continent could generate nearly 25% of its energy needs through the use of renewable energy by 2030. The report, Africa 2030, is a comprehensive roadmap for Africa’s energy transition. IRENA modern renewable technology could realistically meet 22% of Africa’s energy needs, a more than fourfold increase over the 5% in 2013.
The report also finds that scaling up modern renewables in Africa is an affordable means to help meet fast-growing energy demand while increasing energy access, improving health and achieving sustainability goals.
“Africa holds some of the best renewable energy resources in the world in the form of biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “This, combined with the precipitous drop of renewable energy technology costs, creates a massive opportunity for African countries to both transform and expand their energy systems while providing a pathway for low-carbon economic growth.”
The report identifies nearly 10 exajoules, equal to more than 341 megatons of coal, as options for sustainable development through renewable energy. Solar resources are abundant across the continent, while biomass and hydropower potential are more plentiful in the central and southern regions. Wind resources are strongest in the north, east, and southern regions, and geothermal energy is strong in the Great Rift Valley.
“Tapping into renewable energy resources is the only way African nations can fuel economic growth, maximise socio-economic development and enhance energy security with limited environmental impact,” said Amin. “The technologies are available, reliable and increasingly cost-competitive. The onus is now on Africa’s governments to create conditions to accelerate deployment, paving the way for Africa’s unfettered, sustainable development.”
In the IRENA report recommendations are made for 14 actions to speed the uptake of renewables on the continent, including enabling policies and a regulatory framework to catalyse investment, adopting investment promotion measures, and off-grid renewable energy solutions to increase energy access and reduce poverty.