5 October 2015: African countries, on average, could meet 22% of their energy needs with renewable energy by 2030, according to a study by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report is part of IRENA’s global REmap 2030 initiative, which sets a roadmap to doubling the share of renewables in the global energy mix by 2030.
According to IRENA, economic growth, changing lifestyles and need for reliable, modern energy access will drive Africa’s energy demand, which is expected to at least double by 2030. Noting that the region has a rich renewable energy source endowment, the report stresses the need for “sound planning to ensure the right energy mix,” given that “decisions made today will shape the continent’s energy use [for] decades to come.”
The report, titled ‘Africa 2030: Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Future,’ presents the results of the REmap 2030 analysis for five African regions, based on a country-by-country assessment. It concludes that modern renewable technology options could collectively contribute 22% of Africa’s total final energy consumption by 2030, representing a significant increase from 5% in 2013. The report identifies modern biomass for cooking, hydropower, wind and solar power as the technologies with the highest deployment potential.
On electricity generation, the analysis finds that the share of renewables in the mix could grow, on average, to 50% in 2030 if the options outlined in the report are implemented. On heating, the report highlights the benefits of modernizing biomass use for the economy, human health, and women and children. It calculates that a 60% reduction in the use of traditional cookstoves by 2030, compared to 2013, would translate into US$20-30 billion in reduced external costs.
The report recommends a number of actions for accelerating the uptake of renewable energy and achieving the REmap 2030 prospects in Africa, including: adoption of enabling policies; a regulatory framework to catalyse investment; investment promotion measures; raising awareness among local financial institutions about the grid-connected and off-grid renewable energy markets; and establishing frameworks to catalyze private investment and for supporting the off-grid market.
The Africa 2030 report was launched during the South Africa International Renewable Energy Conference (SAIREC), which took place from 4-7 October in Cape Town, South Africa. [IRENA Publication Webpage] [Publication: Africa 2030: Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Future] [IRENA REmap 2030 Webpage]