Browsing: renewable energy

• With its vast rivers and elevated terrains, Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most hydropower-rich nations.
• According to the International Hydropower Association, Ethiopia’s untapped rivers could generate up to 45,000 MW of electricity.
• However, While Ethiopia could evolve into a regional ticket to energy independence, some nations like Egypt and Sudan have expressed concerns over water access and environmental impact.

Ethiopia has long harboured dreams of becoming a renewable energy powerhouse. With its vast rivers and elevated terrains, it is one of Africa’s most hydropower-rich nations.

And as global pressure mounts to curb fossil fuel dependency, the country’s hydropower ambitions offer a glimpse into a future where East Africa’s energy needs could be sustainably met.

With expanding projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and various regional power-sharing agreements underway, Ethiopia is moving beyond its borders, positioning itself as a critical player in East Africa’s renewable energy push.

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• Africa’s blue and green economy is projected to be the new avenue that will drive investments in Africa
• The continent, with its vast coastline and rich marine resources, is poised to harness the immense potential of Africa’s blue and green economy
• According to ADFDB, 80 per cent of global trade is maritime. Oceans also provide billions of people with food, medicine, renewable energy, and natural resources.

Three Kenyan startups are among ten selected across the continent to benefit from $550,000 (Sh70.7 million) in capital to grow their operations towards boosting Africa’s blue and green economy sectors.

Kenya produced the highest number of startups on the list (three), followed by Rwanda with two. South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania each produced one enterprise.

From Kenya, Samaking, Plas Tech, and Ark will each receive $55,000 (Sh7.1 million) in funding to expand across Africa.

These ten ventures are part of the innovative, …

• Energy experts warn that the shortages that plague Africa’s electricity access in 2024 will have a significant drain on the continent’s economic growth.
• World Bank will connect 300 million Africans to electricity with a $35 billion plan.
• Africa is poised to adapt to transformative advancements that will reshape the landscape of energy access, storage, and connectivity across the continent.

Africa remains the most energy-deficient continent, with approximately 75 per cent of its population lacking access to electricity. As of 2021, 43 per cent of Africans, roughly 600 million people, were without electricity access, with 590 million in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, nearly half of the continent’s population is unable to use basic electrical appliances.

Despite improvements in electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa, where 49.4 per cent of the population had access in 2022, up from 33 per cent in 2010, electricity consumption has not seen a corresponding increase. The persistent lack …

• Kenya looks to rise on its estimated $38.4 million blue economy investments to grow sector revenue to $921 million annually. 
• Africa, with its vast coastline and rich marine resources, is poised to harness the immense potential of the blue economy.
• BlueInvest Africa is a business-to-business event that aims to catalyse the growth of Africa’s blue economy through strategic investments.

The Kenyan government is looking to ride on its estimated $38.4 million (KES 5 billion) investments in the blue economy initiatives to increase revenue to $921 million (KES 120 billion) annually.

This will be a threefold increase from the current $288.6 million (KES 37.6 billion) that the state generates from the blue economy.

The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy & Maritime Affairs, Salim Mvurya, said that part of the plan was to map the fisheries’ infrastructure across the country.

“We want to increase the revenue to Sh120 …

• The African Development Bank has donated $20 million to Senegal to enhance food security and support small producers post-COVID through the PRESAN-PC project.
• Infrastructure development, including agricultural boreholes and solar-powered systems, aims to increase farm production and resilience to climate change.
• The project benefits vulnerable women and youth, includes contributions from various sources, and impacts 31,000 households across multiple Senegalese regions.

In an ambitious move to ensure food security and enhance the livelihoods of its small producers, Senegal has received a significant financial boost. On a notable day in March 2024, the African Development Bank Group allocated a $20 million donation to the nation for the Post-Covid Food and Nutrition Security Enhancement Project (PRESAN-PC).

The initiative aims to transform Senegal’s agricultural landscape, benefiting vulnerable women and young people through increased farm production and income.

African Development Bank’s $20 million donation to Senegal 

The African Development Bank’s generous donation comes from …

• Solar energy, alongside wind power, has become the cheapest way to meet the growing demand for electricity, according to the World Bank.
• World Bank’s Demetrios Papathanasiou says many developing countries have some of the world’s best solar and wind resources.
• He expresses his optimism about the ability of global countries to tap into advances in solar energy and make dramatic gains.

Solar energy is expected to surpass coal as the world’s most available energy source by 2027. The African countries with the most immense global potential are critical drivers of this projection.

The World Bank, in its latest energy report update, says that of the nearly 675 million people who still live without electricity worldwide, more than 80 per cent, or 567 million people, live in sub-Saharan Africa.

It says that 2030 solar mini-grids could bring high-quality, uninterrupted power to 380 million people.

“This is if governments and …

• In Africa, just like elsewhere, energy-intensive businesses are under great pressure to decrease CO2 emissions.
• Wärtsilä Energy knows more about this than most: many of our mining and industrial partners in Africa operate their microgrids, either from choice or necessity.
• While wind and solar power can offer emission-free energy at lower costs than fossil fuels, their intermittent nature adds uncertainty to the system.

In African countries, particularly those with a well-developed industrial sector, a significant portion of energy production may come from the industry’s own power plants.

This is especially true in countries with low grid reliability, and industries rely on self-generated power to ensure a stable energy supply.

In this article, we offer insights into Wärtsilä Energy’s approach to supporting energy-intensive industries to optimise the use of renewable energy and reach their decarbonisation objectives.

In Africa, just like elsewhere, energy-intensive businesses are under great pressure to decrease CO2 emissions …

• Global oil and gas producers have remained under immense pressure to show more goodwill in the energy transition agenda.
• As this year’s climate summit enters its homestretch, the most intriguing question is whether the final accord will pledge to reduce fossil fuels.
• The oil and gas industry’s confidence has also caused tension with renewable groups and climate activists.

The 2015 Paris Agreement establishes measures and conditions requiring all member states to mitigate climate change through emission reductions. Further, Goal 7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for concerted efforts to ensure access to modern, cleaner forms of energy, while Goal 13 calls for action to combat climate change.

Consequently, the global energy transition is on the cards. There have been calls from the global north to the south for the world to find a proper compromise on energy needs even as climate change effects put sterner demands on …

• In Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his country will invest 4 billion euros in Africa’s green energy until 2030.
• Scholz made the green energy plans after meeting African leaders and heads of international organizations during the G20 Compact with Africa conference.
• Compact with Africa was initiated by Germany in 2017 during its presidency of the G20 to improve conditions for sustainable private sector investment and investment in infrastructure in Africa.

The government of Germany has pledged to invest $4.37 billion (4 billion euros) in Africa’s green energy until 2030. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made the announcement at a press conference in Berlin after meeting African leaders and heads of international organisations including the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Dr Akinwumi Adesina, during the G20 Compact with Africa conference.

The Compact with Africa was initiated by Germany in 2017 during its presidency of the G20 to improve …

• Xlinks will build a 3,800-kilometer subsea cable to supply solar and wind power.
• Morocco will construct a 20GWh/5GW battery storage on-site to store and deliver reliable energy to the UK when required.
• The undersea cable will be buried at depths between 100m and 250m for most of the route.

Africa’s energy sector has garnered increasing attention in recent times, driven by a global quest for alternative energy sources. Investors worldwide are turning their gaze toward the continent, drawn by its substantial energy reserves. Notably, the Morocco-UK power projects have made significant strides in recent developments.

One such project, led by Xlinks, a UK-based power plant, is diligently preparing the infrastructure required for an underwater renewable energy facility. This ambitious initiative not only bolsters Africa’s international connections but also heralds a transformative shift toward greener energy solutions across the continent.

Morocco-UK power project kickstarts 

According to Joab Okanda, Africa contains …