In 2022, electricity consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa drew from both fossil and low-carbon energy sources, with a notable emphasis on fossil fuels. Over 60% of electricity was generated from fossil sources, with coal being the dominant one at over 40%. Gas also played a significant role, contributing approximately 14% of electricity generation. On the low-carbon side, more than a third of the region's electricity came from sustainable sources. Hydropower made up the bulk of this at nearly 29%, while solar, wind, nuclear, and geothermal energies contributed smaller shares, with solar making up just over 3% and wind around 2.5%. Nuclear and geothermal remained limited but still a part of the mix, making it evident that there's substantial room for growth in clean energy.
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Is Electricity Growing in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Despite a worrying decrease in overall electricity consumption to 418 kWh per person in 2022 from a peak of 450 kWh per person back in 2012, there was a promising increase in low-carbon electricity generation. The consumption of low-carbon energy rose to 159 kWh per person, improving by 7 kWh from its previous record in 2021. This positive trend in sustainable energy use indicates that Sub-Saharan Africa is gradually transitioning toward cleaner electricity sources. However, for the region to meet its future demands, there must be a renewed push to enhance overall electricity generation and further strengthen its low-carbon sector.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Sub-Saharan Africa can draw inspiration from successful countries that have effectively harnessed solar and nuclear energy. For instance, Lebanon has achieved a noteworthy solar contribution of over 30%, and several U.S. states like Iowa and South Dakota have maximized their wind energy capabilities, highlighting the potential for similar advances in Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, countries such as France and Slovakia demonstrate the transformative impact of nuclear energy, with it contributing over half of their electricity. By investing in solar and nuclear technologies, Sub-Saharan Africa can significantly increase its clean energy share and reduce dependency on fossil fuels, paving the way for a greener future.
History
Historically, the journey of low-carbon electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa has been marked by fluctuations, especially with hydropower and nuclear energy. From the early 2010s, hydropower saw consistent growth with notable increases in 2014, 2017, and in the early 2020s, highlighting its critical role as a clean energy source. Meanwhile, nuclear energy, despite positive years in 2013 and 2016, faced significant setbacks, particularly in 2018 and 2020. Recent years have seen promising developments in solar and wind, with 2021 marking significant growth in both sectors. Such progress demonstrates the region's potential to overcome past challenges and expand its clean energy capacity to meet future demands.
