Renewable Energy Management and Climate Change in Africa
Record greenhouse gas emissions are putting the world on a path toward unacceptable conditions with serious implications for development prospects in Africa. Growing up in Nigeria, where electricity is only intermittently available and was something that we certainly did not take for granted. Having to witness the significant waste and exploitation of Natural resources and the negative impact it has on both the country and citizens. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, is so over-dependent on crude oil that it makes up about 90% of its export earnings and this is causing harm both to the environment and economy. Although fossil fuels have provided an easy source of energy and carbon building blocks for polymers and pharmaceuticals, most current energy resources such as fossil fuels are not only limited but also severely harmful to our environment and we need to diversify into Clean-tech.
Concerns about carbon emissions from traditional coal-fired power stations coupled with a projected tripling in African energy demand by 2030 make renewable energy essential to power generation on the continent. Lack of access to electricity is only one challenge that Africa faces, but it is one of the most significant obstacles to socio-economic development.
Africa currently accounts for one-sixth of the world’s population. However, it generates only 4% of the world’s electricity. Furthermore, South Africa and the countries north of the Sahara account for three-quarters of the continent’s energy consumption. Close to 600 million Africans have no access to electricity, and 780 million rely on traditional solid biomass for cooking (mainly fuelwood and agricultural waste). Nearly 80% of those lacking access to power across sub-Saharan Africa live in rural areas.
In Ghana, electrification rates have gradually increased over the past 20 years, reaching almost 85% in 2017 and building on successful electrification plans. The country relies on a diversified energy mix and hosts the largest hydropower project of the Western African region.
Since 2000, Africa has been experiencing rapid economic growth and improving social conditions. The average real gross domestic product reached 3.6% in 2017 and is projected to rise to around 4% in 2018 and in 2019 (African Development Bank, 2018). Six African economies are expected to feature among the top ten fastest-growing economies in 2018 (World Bank, 2018). Given the continent’s large and growing population, energy demand is expected is nearly double by 2040. Endowed with substantial renewable energy resources, Africa is in a position to adopt innovative, sustainable technologies and to play a leading role in global action to shape a sustainable energy future. Supply unreliability is a concern holding back economic development, with most countries facing frequent blackouts and often relying on expensive and polluting solutions.
Clean, indigenous and affordable renewable energy solutions offer the continent the chance to achieve its economic, social, environmental and climate objectives. Sustainable development and use of the continent’s massive biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind power have the potential to rapidly change Africa’s current realities. Renewables provide the chance to leapfrog to a sustainable, prosperous future for all. Increasing access to reliable, affordable and clean energy resources is a key priority, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Around 600 million people in Africa still have no access to power, representing 48% of the continent’s population of nearly 1.2 billion (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development International Energy Agency, 2017).
Climate change is an increasingly urgent global issue, the pressure is on the renewable industry to plan and finance successful recoveries from catastrophic climate events. Yet building a framework of preparedness, having sufficient financial protection, and establishing it at scale before a disaster hits remain challenging.
The famous Harmattan season in West Africa failed to show up this year and the season that is closest to the feeling of snow was non-existent due to the ignorance of political leaders on the topic of climate change, trying to leave the search of a solution to “White Saviours”, the demand of power is being correlated to oil and clearly, this should be replaced with other means of energy. For years Africa has made it known of the cons of oil and gas, but they haven't made any great stride to diversify into Clean Energy, this might be due to greed or lousy leadership, but I will say both.
Recognizing the increasing threat of climate change, many countries came together in 2015 to adopt the historic Paris Agreement, committing themselves to limit climate change to well below 2° C. More than 190 countries have signed the accord, though several haven’t officially ratified it, including Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, South Sudan, Turkey and Yemen. The U.S. was by far the largest country that wasn’t party to the agreement. The agreement entered into force in November 2016.
A stronger role in Africa for geothermal energy. While Kenya has been the centre of geothermal development so far, new projects for geothermal power generation and direct heat utilisation are planned in the region. However, the large geothermal potential remains mostly untapped, notably along the East African Rift System. Ten African countries and five regional African organisations have become members or partners in the Global Geothermal Alliance, a global platform facilitated by IRENA to promote development in this key sector through enhanced dialogue, co-operation and co-ordinated action.
What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international accord — though it is not a treaty — that was adopted at a United Nations climate conference in Paris in December 2015. It entered into force on Nov. 4, 2016, after a sufficient number of countries had ratified it. (Which almost all countries are failing to a certain degree).
Research from the New Climate Economy shows that bold climate action could deliver at least $26 trillion in global economic benefits between now and 2030. It could also generate over 65 million new low-carbon jobs by 2030, a number equivalent to the combined workforces of the United Kingdom and Egypt today; avoid over 700,000 premature deaths from air pollution compared with business-as-usual, and generate an estimated $2.8 trillion in government revenues in 2030 through subsidy reform and carbon pricing alone
Africa has made great efforts in driving the global climate agenda. This is demonstrated by the very high levels of ratification of the Paris Agreement — over 90%. Many African nations have committed to transitioning to green energy within a relatively short time frame. Clean energy and agriculture are, for example, prioritized in over 70% of African NDCs. This ambition needs to be an integral part of setting the economic development priorities of the continent.
INVESTING IN AFRICAN RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
Aligning with the 2030 vision to energize and “light up” Africa and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, more renewable energy sources are being actively explored. Driven by their own concerns of corporate governance as well as the proven economic viability of renewable resources, funders are proving less inclined to finance coal-fired power stations.
Consequently, Africa’s adoption of renewable energy projects is accelerating.
The World Bank has estimated that US$43 billion per year of investment is required for infrastructure in the power sector,12 while the African Development Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimate a need for a package of US$41 billion per year to finance the development of the energy sector in Africa.13
I certainly believe Africa can play a leading role in the fight against climate change and the small island developing States are the regions facing the largest capacity gaps concerning climate services. Africa also has the least developed land-based observation network of all continents. Africa has a significant supply of wind, sunshine, hydropower and even geothermal resources.
