Harnessing wave energy to fix Africa’s electricity crisis

• Conversations around tapping the potential of ocean water take centre stage at the Africa Climate Summit.
• A UNEP report shows that ocean renewable energy presents untapped resource for Africa, with the potential to generate between 100% to 400% of the current global energy.
• Estimates show that theoretical potential for Africa’s wave energy will reach a total of 3,500 TWh per year.

Despite rising investments in renewables as the world moves to realize net-zero emissions by 2050, the contribution of Africa’s wave energy remains very minimal. The Africa Climate Summit (ACS) was a pivotal platform to explore the potential of tapping oceans, one of Africa’s biggest resources.

With the summit’s overarching theme “Driving Green Growth & Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World,” heightening the urgency to address climate crisis; harnessing the potential of ocean water for clean energy could accelerate Africa’s journey to net-zero.

This made for a key topic of discussion ‘Accelerating Climate Resilient Investments in Water.’ Panelists examined the crucial role of water in Africa’s development and efforts to bridge the investment gap, while charting a path towards a sustainable and resilient future.

According to UNEP’s Africa Environment Outlook for Business report, ocean renewable energy presents a vast untapped resource for Africa. This resource has the potential to generate between 100 to 400 percent of the current global energy.

Potential for Africa’s wave energy

Estimates by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) show that the potential for marine energy will hit 500GW by 2050. This will be enough to power millions of homes and businesses.

Many African countries have made commitments to mitigate their carbon footprint by implementing renewable energy targets in their climate action plans. Economies across Africa are moving from fossil fuels, instead embracing renewable energy to power industries and homes.

Besides, Africa is still under the new deal on energy to light up and power Africa, geared towards promoting a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for the continent. According to the World Energy Council, theoretical potential for Africa’s wave energy can reach 3,500TWh per year.

Previously, the instantaneous wave power resource of African waters has been estimated to be 324 GW or 422 GW. Sub-tropical latitudes boast the highest resource density in the south and northwest whilst low wave energy densities are found in in the sheltered Mediterranean and Red Sea as well as in Equatorial Africa.

According to Fairly et al, the most powerful wave climate is found in South Africa, Namibia, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Moreover, more locations with high potential for wave power typically above 15 kW/m, are found in Cabo Verde, Morocco, Mozambique, Somalia, and Senegal.

Furthermore, Atlantic countries from Morocco to Liberia along with the Comoros, Madagascar and Southern parts of Mozambique; were classified as having ‘moderate-energy coastlines’ primarily influenced by long distance swell. Equatorial West Africa and Central Africa were classified as having ‘moderate energy with influence of local storms’.

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Electricity Crisis in Africa

The chronic energy crisis in Africa has left large swathes of the population lacking access to electricity. And for those connected to mains supply, outages are a constant challenge.

Data from the AfDB indicates that over 600 million Africans have no access to energy, corresponding to an electricity access rate for African countries at just over 40 per cent, the lowest in the world. African cities continue to grow by the day, but many have been facing unsteady supplies of electricity, with some rural areas lacking power in totality.

Data from the World Bank say $20 billion worth of annual investment is critical to achieve universal electrification across Sub-Saharan Africa. But, given Africa’s access to ocean waters, can tapping wave energy plug the deficit?

Currently, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is facing a severe energy crisis, with only 50 percent of the SADC region having access to electricity. It has become an uphill task for governments to supply electricity consistently.

Load shedding has become a nightmare especially in South Africa. The slow shift to renewables and the overreliance on ageing coal plants cannot meet the electricity demand of the country’s population.

Electricity outages have stunted economic growth, whereby some citizens have been going up to 10 hours a day without power. For instance in 2022, the rainbow nation suffered 200 days of electricity outages.

Electricity woes in Zimbabwe

Sectors that are power reliant have suffered a huge blow undermining overall productivity. Being the economic powerhouse of the SADC region, the effects of the power crisis have reverberated to neighbouring countries.

The interlinked nature among the SADC which renders South Africa the vortex of regional trade, whereby neighbouring countries rely on its ports and logistics network, the power outages can disrupt the supply chain pf goods across the entire region.

Similarly, neighbouring Zimbabwe is facing daunting electricity shortages due to reduced water levels at Kariba dam, due to droughts. This is the nation’s biggest dam and major power generator through the Kariba South Hydro Power Station. It provides 70 per cent of its electricity. Currently, the dam is producing a paltry 300MW instead of 1050MW.

Statistics from the World Bank indicate that businesses in Nigeria suffer an annual loss of $29 Billion due to unreliable electricity. This has become a perennial crisis for this populous West African nation, despite its endowment in rich oil reserves.

Experts highlight that the country generates a paltry 4,000MW yet the population of more than 210 million people need and an estimated 30,000MW.

This ‘oil-rich but energy poor’ phenomenon has been caused by endemic corruption but investments are being made to plug the deficit. Albeit Uganda has been deepening investments in electricity generation, the country has continued to be plagued by power cuts.

Renewable energy projects harnessing the power of ocean water

1. Ada Foah wave energy project in Ghana

Ghana’s Ada Foah Energy Project is one such project, with an estimated wave energy potential of 7,215 MW and will make for Africa’s first wave farm. The project seeks to build a wave energy park in the Gulf of Guinea. Estimates put its capacity at 1,000MW of power drawn from ecologically friendly technologies.

The initiative expects to generate up to $2 billion in investment, with over $10 million already secured. The Ghana Standards Authority will ensure the safety and quality of the product, with the cost of electricity generated, expected to average between three and four cents; compared to hydropower and thermal which costs 10 cents.

The innovative project will not only ensure the provision of sustainable energy supply in Ghana, but will reduce the reliance on hydrocarbons.

Also Read: Green finance is the game changer Africa needs to combat climate change   

2. Wave2O Project in Cabo Verde

Globally, Cabo Verde is pioneering a reverse-osmosis desalination plant under the country’s innovative Wave2O program. The plant is powered by wave energy. Once complete, it will accelerate the country’s switch to 50 per cent renewable energy use by 2030.

Wave2O Project will consist of the development of a reverse-osmosis desalination plant, powered solely by wave energy. According to the AfDB, which is supporting the pilot project, it will supply over 48,000 people with clean fresh water.

This innovative approach aims to harness the power of ocean waves, to generate clean energy and provide sustainable desalinated water. Furthermore, the wave-powered system will avoid 5,400 metric tons of CO₂/year. The pilot project will assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the technology, and pave the way for the launch of a commercial pilot.

Wave2O technology is a proprietary seawater desalination process that amalgamates wave energy converters, from the technology company Resolute Marine, with onshore desalination and electricity generation plants.

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3. The Floating Solar PV Project at Tamarind Falls Reservoir Project in Mauritius

Fueled by the need to produce electricity for the country, the government of Mauritius plans to implement a Floating Solar Photovoltaics (PV) project in reservoirs across the country. A 2MW power plant is coming up at the Tamarind Falls Reservoir on a pilot basis.

The Floating Solar PV project will contribute an additional 30MW capacity to the Central Electricity Board. It comprises the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of an eight MW Solar PV Farm.

Phase I of the scheme, closed in 2016, saw the deployment of about 5MW. In Phase II, the country’s CEB projects to deploy another 2MW. The PV Farm will generate over 14GWh of electricity annually, on the national grid once operations begin.

Data from the International Renewable Energy Agency shows Mauritius’ overall installed capacity of solar PV stood at 110MW out of the 271MW of total renewables mix by the end of 2022. By the same token, the UNDP’s solar irradiation potential in the country averages six Watts per square meter per day, and is this is outstanding.

Over and above, the island country has set the target of adding 40 per cent of renewable energy to the national energy mix by 2025, and 60 per cent by 2030.

Also Read: Ocean conservation can revamp Africa’s blue economy

     4. Floating solar power plants in Seychelles

The Republic of Seychelles plans to construct a 5.8MW photovoltaic floating solar power energy system, to commence in the fourth quarter of 2023.The small island nation, which is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, plans to develop the largest salt-water floating solar power plant on the planet.

This is driven by the push to achieve energy security, as well as sustainable development. The project will bolster the nation’s goals to achieve 15 per cent of its energy sourced from renewables by 2030.

Being a small island developing state (SIDS), Seychelles having limited land resources, has been heavily dependent upon imported fossil fuels. The island has been exploring the use of renewable sources of energy, primarily marine energy given its vast ocean territory, identifying several promising sites for wave and tidal energy projects.

Marine energy, also known as ocean energy or blue energy is a relatively untapped renewable energy source with immense potential. It taps into the power of the ocean’s waves, tides and currents to generate electricity.

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The potential for waves in Seychelles

Wave energy also holds much promise for Seychelles. In light of this, Seabased, a Swedish company selected the country as one of the pilot sites, for the deployment of a novel wave energy converter in 2019.

The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Environment Facility backed project aims to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of wave energy in small island developing states.

On the continental front, Morocco and Tunisia have been at the forefront of the floating solar power segment in North Africa. In the West African, Ghana is leading the way in adopting floating solar power technology. In South Africa, there is a renewed charge to leverage renewables, including floating solar power units, to avoid reliance on coal.

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