Renewables to Drive Power Generation Growth in Africa, IEA Says

Renewable energy will satisfy much of Africa’s expanding power needs by 2040 as the continent unlocks vast hydropower resources, the International Energy Agency said.

Energy demand south of the Sahara Desert will grow 80 percent as the economy quadruples in size during the period, the Paris-based institution said in a report released today.  Renewable energy and hydropower will supply almost half of the growth.

The findings are the most detailed study yet of Africa’s energy demand and suggest the continent will take “a major step forward” in spreading electricity to rural areas and bringing people out of poverty, the IEA said.

“Many governments are now intensifying their efforts to tackle the numerous regulatory and political barriers that are holding back investment in domestic energy supply,” the report said.  “But inadequate energy infrastructure risks putting a brake on urgently needed improvements.”

The IEA, which advises industrial nations on energy policy also sketches the scale of the challenge in bringing the African continent closer to the energy standards enjoyed in industrial nations.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 13 percent of the world’s population and 4 percent of energy demand.  Only 290 million of the region’s 915 million people have access to electricity.  Two thirds of the cash put into energy is for developing resources to export.

Renewables to Drive Power Generation Growth in Africa, IEA Says