Africa Archives - Page 2 of 8

Clean Energy Financing in Africa

June 27, 2022 | Finance

While Africa accounts for almost one‐fifth of the world’s population, it attracts less than 5% of global energy investment. This is spread unevenly across the continent. Ten countries accounted for 90% of private investment in energy and electricity infrastructure on the continent over the last ten years, South Africa alone accounting for nearly 40%. Total energy investment in Africa was already declining prior to the pandemic and fell even more quickly in 2020, by over 20%.

Electricity and Gas Markets in Africa

June 4, 2022 | Knowledge Centre, Presentations, Webinars & Videos

The IEA is deploying a capacity reinforcement programme for African energy experts and professionals. To maximise the value and long-term payoff of training sessions organized under the programme, the IEA is proposing to a community of African experts regular webinars to share analyses on energy. The latest one by IEA Africa University was on “Electricity and gas markets in Africa”

Africa: The Power of Renewal – Current Status of the Energy Transition

June 1, 2022 | Mega Trends & Analysis

In Africa, the most noticeable trend has been the transition towards decentralized power solutions. Solar home systems have also moved from being a niche sector dominated by non-governmental organizations to being considered a mainstream investment led by the big players. Energy investors who have traditionally focused on grid-scale generation are now investing in, buying or developing businesses in this area in Africa.

Assessing EU plans to import hydrogen from North Africa

May 18, 2022 | Mega Trends & Analysis

Hydrogen is expensive to distribute via shipping and pipeline, which is why today the large majority of it is manufactured at the point of consumption. Realistically, is Europe going to be willing to pay that very significant price difference? North African governments and firms should therefore be wary of promises of large export markets for expensive to manufacture and ship green hydrogen, and the synthetic fuels made from it.

Egypt’s Power Sector: Transition Towards Renewable Energy

April 26, 2022 | Mega Trends & Analysis

Egypt has achieved an electrification rate of more than 95 per cent. However, due to rapid population growth and an expanding economy, the country continues to witnesses an increase in energy demand. Given Egypt’s limited and depleting fossil fuel endowments, the country is now turning to renewable energy to meet the rising power demand.

Various policies are promoting solar uptake in Nigeria: NEP’s Anita Otubu

March 31, 2022 | Interviews

The total energy access gap is pretty huge in Nigeria. Even for those who do have access to power, the power supply is unreliable and unstable. Thus, there is a lot that needs to be done. The federal government of Nigeria has taken huge steps towards bridging the existing energy access gap. A number of policies and regulations have been introduced to promote solar power in Nigeria to not take over but supplement the main grid.

Solar Power Policies in Nigeria – Presentation by Nigeria Electrification Project’s Anita Otubu

March 24, 2022 | Knowledge Centre, Presentations

At REGlobal’s 2nd edition of “Solar Power in Africa” conference, Anita Otubu, Head – PMU, Nigeria Electrification Project gave a presentation on the various solar power plans and policies in the country of Nigeria. In her presentation, she discussed the schemes and regulations to promote solar power in Nigeria; progress made so far in these countries; and initiatives to address the challenges that lie ahead.

Solar power growth and outlook in Africa – Presentation by GIZ’s Martin Lyambai

March 23, 2022 | Knowledge Centre, Presentations

At REGlobal’s 2nd edition of “Solar Power in Africa” conference, Martin Lyambai, Advisor, Renewable Energy and Private Sector Development, GIZ gave a presentation on solar power growth and outlook in the African continent. In his presentation, he discussed the growth trends, key drivers, and barriers; cost trends and emerging business models; and future outlook and the way forward.

Combining crops and solar panels is allowing Kenya to ‘harvest the sun twice’

March 19, 2022 | Opinion & Perspective

In a region where energy security poses real challenges, but sunlight is not in short supply, solar electricity seems an obvious solution for much of Africa. But the answer isn’t as simple as that. Installing vast arrays of photovoltaic (PV) panels often means clearing swathes of land to bare soil. And there is often competition for land, which is also needed for food production. But a new trial planting crops beneath the panels has shown some promising results in Eastern Africa.

Just Transition in Africa: Report

March 15, 2022 | Knowledge Centre, Reports

This report reveals the scale of financial support provided by commercial banks, development finance institutions, and export credit agencies that flowed to the fossil fuel industry in West, Central, East, and Southern Africa between 2016 and June 2017. The vast majority of this finance came from financial institutions based outside Africa, both commercial banks and public finance institutions like development banks and export credit agencies.

Is Morocco ready for small-scale solar capacity?

March 10, 2022 | Mega Trends & Analysis

Currently, installed solar energy capacity in Morocco amounts to 760 MW approx., of which about 200 MW is photovoltaic. Morocco aims to reduce the country’s dependence on commodities imports and exploit national wind and solar potential. The New Energy Strategy approved by the Moroccan Government has set an ambitious target of 52% share of renewables on total installed capacity by 2030. Small-scale PV is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving the country’s goals; nonetheless, is Morocco ready?

Blueprints for Climate Finance in Kenya

March 4, 2022 | Knowledge Centre, Reports

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya has embarked on a low carbon, resilient recovery plan. A study from GNIplus that tracked climate finance flows in Kenya revealed that only one third of needed annual climate finance flowed to climate-related investments in 2018. Of that, 80% of the climate finance tracked flowed mostly to mitigation sectors such as energy.

Tanzanian Power Sector: Ambitious targets set for the coming decade

February 20, 2022 | Mega Trends & Analysis

The East African country of Tanzania, with a population of around 62 million and an electrification rate of only 30 per cent, continues to struggle with providing electricity access to its population. However, the government is making concerted efforts to improve its electric infrastructure, which is critical to advance the country’s economic growth. Tanzania has also set a target to ensure 100 per cent universal access to modern energy by 2030.

Floating solar panels on 1% of reservoirs ‘could double’ Africa’s hydropower capacity

February 12, 2022 | Opinion & Perspective

Floating solar could be a valuable tool to help African nations expand their power infrastructure sustainably, according to a new study and an energy expert. If panels covered 1% of reservoirs, this alone could double African hydropower capacity and increase electricity generation from dams by 50%. But unknowns remain, such as the impacts on water quality and technical challenges including the impact of bird fouling and corrosion.

Putting Africa on the path to universal electricity access

February 9, 2022 | Opinion & Perspective

As commodity prices soar and leaders around the world worry about energy shortages and prices of gasoline at the pump, millions of people in Africa still lack access to electricity. This energy access crisis must be addressed urgently. Electricity is an important step toward enhancing people’s opportunities and choices. Access is key to boosting economic activity and contributes to improving human capital, which, in turn, is an investment in a country’s potential.

Power Is Key Downside Risk To Oracle’s South African Cloud Journey

February 6, 2022 | Opinion & Perspective

A key downside risk to Oracle’s investment and to the overall growth of South Africa’s cloud computing industry is the unreliable access to power in the country. Powering digital infrastructure using renewable sources is becoming an increasingly attractive trend, particularly in SSA where reliable access to electricity grids is uncertain and its near-constant sunshine makes it the ideal location to explore solar power.

Africa Solar Outlook 2022

February 3, 2022 | Knowledge Centre, Reports

Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has released its annual “Africa Solar Outlook Report” which presents a complete review of the status of solar in Africa, country by country. Each country is presented through different angles: national solar and renewable energy objectives, current grid tariffs per customer segment, installed PV capacity per segment, all applicable policy and regulation, and finally notable market developments in the country.

Are current policies sufficient to support South Africa’s renewable energy goals?

February 2, 2022 | Policy Watch

The Government of South Africa has ambitious plans to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. But are current policy settings sufficient to achieve these objectives? The renewable energy sector currently contributes only a small share of total electricity generation in South Africa: in 2019 wind and solar accounted for 3% and 1% of total generation, respectively. Installed capacity increased tenfold in as many years, from 0.9 gigawatts (GW) in 2011 to 9.6 GW in 2020.

Green panda bond could spur Chinese investment towards Africa’s energy transition

January 23, 2022 | Opinion & Perspective

The Declaration on China-Africa Cooperation on Combatting Climate Change is formed of broad brushstrokes but provides the shape of future partnership in the energy sector. On clean energy, it includes a commitment from China to further increase investment in solar, wind and other renewables in Africa. The acceleration of Chinese support for solar and wind was also mentioned in Xi’s opening keynote and the Vision 2035 document, which was released at the forum.

Renewable Energy Market Analysis: Africa and its Regions

January 20, 2022 | Knowledge Centre, Reports

Africa is extraordinarily diverse, and no single approach will advance its energy future. But efforts must be made to build modern, resilient and sustainable energy systems across the continent to avoid trapping economies and societies in increasingly obsolete energy systems that burden them with stranded assets and limited economic prospects.

Tag: Africa

Clean Energy Financing in Africa

Electricity and Gas Markets in Africa

Africa: The Power of Renewal – Current Status of the Energy Transition

Assessing EU plans to import hydrogen from North Africa

Egypt’s Power Sector: Transition Towards Renewable Energy

Various policies are promoting solar uptake in Nigeria: NEP’s Anita Otubu

Solar Power Policies in Nigeria – Presentation by Nigeria Electrification Project’s Anita Otubu

Solar power growth and outlook in Africa – Presentation by GIZ’s Martin Lyambai

Combining crops and solar panels is allowing Kenya to ‘harvest the sun twice’

Just Transition in Africa: Report

Is Morocco ready for small-scale solar capacity?

Blueprints for Climate Finance in Kenya

Tanzanian Power Sector: Ambitious targets set for the coming decade

Floating solar panels on 1% of reservoirs ‘could double’ Africa’s hydropower capacity

Putting Africa on the path to universal electricity access

Power Is Key Downside Risk To Oracle’s South African Cloud Journey

Africa Solar Outlook 2022

Are current policies sufficient to support South Africa’s renewable energy goals?

Green panda bond could spur Chinese investment towards Africa’s energy transition

Renewable Energy Market Analysis: Africa and its Regions

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