IRENA says renewable energy capacity in sub-Saharan Africa 30% as of 2021
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) states that the capacity for renewable energy in 2021 was 30%. This declaration was made in the agency’s report on renewable energy objectives, published in November 2022.
According to the report, 57% of the capacity projected for advancement by 2030 has been attained. In fact, the majority of regions have already surpassed the midway mark regarding their objectives. Sub-Saharan Africa stands at 30%, however. The research asserts:
“To achieve the goals established for 2030, totaling 5.4 TW, countries would need to target an additional 2.3 TW by 2030, which amounts to average annual increments of 259 gigawatts (GW) over the upcoming nine years.”
Nonetheless, the planned average yearly capacity increases of 259 GW until 2030 represent less than one-third of the 860 GW required to satisfy the 1.5°C scenarios.
The sub-Saharan African situation: In nations such as Nigeria, implementing renewable energy technologies in underserved communities poses significant challenges.
Gaining access to some of these communities can be problematic due to their inaccessibility, according to renewable energy specialist Chigozie A., who spoke with Nairametrics. He noted that the number of individuals in the area lacking access to off-grid energy is on the rise.
IRENA’s report indicates that reaching underserved groups is challenging. Moreover, even when access is available, it is often highly unreliable.
The region’s population growth further complicates the successful uptake of renewable energy technologies. IRENA points out that the population is growing at a pace that surpasses the expansion of access to clean cooking and renewable energy sources.
From 2019 to 2022, Nigeria will install 1 million standalone solar home systems (SHS) thanks to the commitment of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
A statement released by the REA in November 2022 indicated that with this achievement, roughly 5 million individuals across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones now have access to clean, safe, reliable, and affordable electricity through SHS technology.
The REA emphasizes that the objective of standalone solar home systems (SHS) for households and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) is to support millions of underserved and unserved Nigerian households and MSMEs in accessing improved energy services at a reasonable cost, facilitated by private sector enterprises.
The implementation of renewable energy technologies, whether for electricity or clean cooking, is reported to have a beneficial socioeconomic effect on employment, local economies, enhanced livelihoods, gender equality, and overall welfare, according to the IRENA report.
The report additionally asserted that, under the 1.5°C scenario, a global energy shift toward renewables could enhance gross domestic product (GDP).
The socioeconomic benefits could be particularly noticeable in Africa, where a transition to renewable energy has the potential to foster industrialization, socioeconomic growth, and elevate the welfare of the population.
A delegation from the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI) met with Nigeria’s minister of power, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, last week to explore a possible collaboration.
Private sector participants in the off-grid power industry as well as the nation’s educational establishments may gain from CREEI’s expertise in solar and wind energy.
