Transitioning to 100% Renewable Energy Offers Africa Its Most Promising Path to Growth
A new report, "African Energy Leadership: The Case for 100% Renewable Energy," reveals a promising future for Africa's job market. By embracing a fully renewable energy system, the continent could create as many as 5.4 million new energy sector jobs by 2050.
This significant finding was released on Thursday at the ongoing SB62 climate meetings in Bonn, Germany. The report itself is a collaborative effort, developed in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS-ISF).
The findings underscore not just the environmental and economic benefits, but also the social and developmental imperatives of a renewable future. The report positions renewable energy as the most affordable, equitable, and sustainable energy trajectory for the continent.
Job Growth Depends on Africa’s Energy Pathway
The report lays out three possible energy futures and their corresponding employment outcomes by 2050:
- Business-as-usual: Adds 3.2 million jobs, including 2.1 million in renewables.
- Climate pledge-compliant scenario: Adds 4 million jobs, with 3.5 million in renewables.
- 100% renewable energy scenario: Adds 5.4 million jobs—maximizing employment and sustainability gains.
The 100% renewable pathway would not only provide energy security and affordability but also position Africa as a global leader in clean energy development, the report argues.
Solar PV at the Core of Africa’s Renewable Future
The study identifies solar photovoltaic (PV) as the dominant power source in Africa’s future energy mix. Wind and bioenergy would play complementary roles, with a major emphasis on expanding off-grid and community-led renewable systems.
“A 100% renewable energy scenario requires dynamic growth in new capacities for renewable heat and power generation,” the report says. “It also requires a strong role for community ownership and operation of energy projects.”
This decentralized, people-centered approach is seen as a critical departure from outdated models based on centralized fossil fuel infrastructure.
Leapfrogging the Past, Building for the Future
The report frames Africa’s transition as a historic opportunity to leapfrog fossil fuel dependency and adopt clean, inclusive, and modern energy systems. It promotes cooperative ownership models, shared infrastructure standards, and innovative grid designs as tools for expanding access while fostering economic equity.
Key recommendations include:
- Prioritizing off-grid and storage technologies to expand rural access.
- Supporting regional and community-driven energy projects.
- Emphasizing socially inclusive ownership structures that engage both producers and consumers.
“This is the path to a future where global warming is limited to below 1.5°C,” the report concludes.
Nigeria’s Electrification Push Aligns with Report Vision
Echoing these findings, Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) recently outlined a plan to deliver power to 25 million people within three years using decentralized solutions.
According to REA Managing Director Abba Aliyu, the national strategy includes:
- Powering 30 million Nigerians through isolated mini-grids.
- Connecting 1.5 million via interconnected mini-grids.
- Reaching 12 million with mesh grids and standalone systems.
This diversified and region-sensitive approach mirrors the report’s recommendation to adopt flexible, sustainable infrastructure models that fit local realities.
A Turning Point for Africa
With energy poverty still affecting hundreds of millions across the continent, the potential for green job creation, expanded access, and climate resilience positions renewable energy not just as an environmental imperative—but as a catalyst for inclusive development.
As global climate dialogues intensify, Africa’s renewable journey could serve as both a blueprint and a bold statement of leadership in the global transition.