30 May 2012: The Africa Renewable Energy Alliance (AREA) has reported on the outcomes of its fourth annual conference, “Access to Sustainable, Renewable Energy in Africa as prerequisite for the MDGs,” which illustrated confidence in the future of renewable energy in Africa and provided concrete policy recommendation to governments.

Professor Salah Arafa, American University in Cairo and member of the AREA Steering Committee, stated that “Africa will be the powerhouse of the world” due to a decline in the price of renewable energy technologies, recent developments in the direction of more political stability, and the benefits of renewable energies for off-grid regions.

Conference participants highlighted that: it is expected that by 2030 the electrification rate will be nearly 90% in Africa, with farmers benefiting greatly from renewable energies; cross-country partnerships on energy are slated to increase; the private sector needs to take a leading role in renewable energy development; and good governance is a crucial factor for attracting investments in renewable energy.

AREA recommendations resulting from the meeting include that: governments should redirect fossil fuel subsidies into renewable energy infrastructure; financial incentives, such as tax reductions, and supporting regulation are crucial; and mechanisms, such as micro-financing should be integrated with other development approaches rather than being considered a stand-alone solution.

The conference report provides an overview of the various conference session topics, including: access to renewable energy through micro-finance; sustainable and efficient cooking solutions; mini-grid with telecommunication infrastructure; and affordable energy through renewables. Case studies that were presented cover, inter alia, Bangladesh, Ghana, India, and Cape Verde. All presentations are available from the AREA website.

The conference, which took place from 22-26 May 2012, was hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Centre, Italy, and the World Future Council. [AREA Press Release] [Conference Report] [Conference Agenda] [Conference Presentations]