The Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) issued a policy brief on ways to support the growth of wind energy in Africa. The authors present findings that the region is currently using only 0.01% of its wind energy potential. They stress that Africa needs to dramatically expand generation capacity to approach full access to sustainable energy services for its citizens, part of its sustainable master plan stipulated in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

AEEP facilitates the achievement of universal access to affordable, sustainable and modern energy in Africa. The Partnership’s steering group is comprised of the AU Commission, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Egypt, the European Commission, Germany and Italy.

The authors note that onshore wind power in Africa could match the region’s electricity demand 250 times over (180,000 TWh per year), and 27 African countries on their own each have sufficient wind potential to theoretically supply all of Africa with electricity. In 2020, installed wind capacity is only equivalent to 6,500 MW of electricity, which is a fraction of its technical potential. 

According to the policy brief, titled ‘Wind Energy: Joining Forces for an African Lift-Off,’ five key action areas are:

• Enable regulators and bankable power purchase agreements;
• Fund and construct a much-enhanced grid;
• Manageable, dynamic grid balancing;
• Localization roadmaps for each African region; and
• Ongoing capacity building.

The brief reports that the Africa Energy Transition Programme led by the Africa Energy Commission (AFREC) “anchors Africa’s energy transition” to Agenda 2063, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement on climate change through six strategic objectives. In June 2021, AU Member States requested AFREC/AUC to mobilize resources for programmes to accelerate green energy investments for increased energy access and climate ambition. [Publication:  Wind Energy: Joining Forces for an African Lift-Off]