A new report to come from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has detailed its belief that Africa has not only the potential but the ability as well to fuel the majority of its future growth by using renewable energy.
Setting up Solar in Africa
Source: Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND)
The report, ‘Africa’s Renewable Future: The Path To Sustainable Growth’, can be found here (PDF) and is one of many announcements made by IRENA during the World Future Energy Summit (15-17 January), part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Countries throughout Africa are experiencing massive economic and demographic growth, with six of the world’s ten fastest rising economies coming from Africa, and a population that is expected to burst through 2 billion by 2050.
Subsequently, policy makers in Africa, and dealing with Africa, are facing a decision: where is the energy going to come from to sustain such a population and economic increase?
The IRENA report shows that a combination of solar and hydropower resources, when complemented by bioenergy, wind, geothermal, and marine resources in select regions, could help Africa continue its growth unhindered.
“Africa is undergoing a transformation, and has an unparalleled opportunity to use renewable energy to promote growth and improve millions of lives across the continent,” says Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General. “It’s an exciting moment, and IRENA is ready to play its role in assisting Africa on its path to a renewable energy future.”
All of this comes on the heels of a GTM Reserach report which listed the Middle East and North Africa as having the capacity to reach 3.5 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2015.
“In terms of solar energy, it is clear that the MENA [Middle East North Africa] region is set to experience significant change over the next five years,” said Scott Burger, GTM Research analyst and the report’s author. “While Saudi Arabia will likely be the largest market in the long-term, there will be significant opportunities throughout the region. With strategic planning and a solid development of local partners and supply chains, savvy companies will be able to capitalize on all of the opportunities in the region.”
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