Energy transition must be equitable for Africa

Energy transition must be equitable for Africa

Tackling Africa's energy access problems requires those involved to think of the entire system, rather than focusing simply on renewables.

“Economic uncertainty is the challenge around the world but particularly in Africa. There are concerns about supply and security, while affordability is the critical priority. That has to be thought of as not just the price of generation – such as wind or solar – but the cost of energy delivered,” the World Energy Council's secretary-general Dr Angela Wilkinson said.

COVID-19 has exacerbated the continent's energy problems, although Wilkinson was keen to highlight the differences between different countries. In 2020, the number of people with access to power will actually fall, reversing a multi-year trend.

Wilkinson noted that the question of energy access is not just about having enough power to charge a mobile phone or turn on a light.

“It can't just be mini-grids and solar photovoltaics. That will not create manufacturing jobs in Africa. There's a quality of access conversation,” she said, speaking on the launch of the World Energy Issues Monitor 2021.

There is a need for investments in transmission and molecules, rather than just “mini-grids and decentralisation”. In order to tackle this problem, the continent will need to use gas and