Building a Clean Energy Future for Africa

Despite the rising renewable energy supply globally, most power still comes from polluting fossil fuels. In 2021, only 50.6% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa had access to electricity, with varying rates per country. More than 80% of the population depends on biomass fuels for their energy needs because alternatives are unavailable or unaffordable.

Access to clean, affordable and reliable power is essential for human health, education and economic prosperity. Africa requires a balance between urgently increasing access to electricity and building low-carbon energy systems for the future.

Despite its massive renewable energy potential, the continent still accounts for only 3% of global energy investment. Little country-level research on low-carbon opportunities exists. There is an urgent need to ensure that decisions on African energy transitions today are informed by clear and objective analysis, ideally undertaken at the country level.

Our vision is to provide clean, reliable affordable power for all communities while reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

• At least 20 national and sub-national administrations use data-driven, inclusive and integrated energy planning to improve development outcomes in health and livelihood sectors.
• Improved livelihoods of 1,000,000 smallholder farmers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia through productive use of renewable energy for agriculture by 2027.
• By 2027, 20 healthcare facilities serving 500,000 people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have access to affordable, reliable and clean energy from decentralized renewable energy sources, enabling them to provide and expand health services to patients.

Our approach is to:

• Expand energy access and support equitable development. We map access to electricity in underserved areas, identify areas ripe for clean energy development, and ensure historically marginalized communities are included in energy planning decisions.
• Support policy reforms that incentivize investment in clean energy, job creation and capacity-building of the energy workforce.
• Shape the research agenda on just energy transitions and elevate African perspectives on national, regional and global platforms.
• Unlock finance to the clean energy sector.

_{Cover image by Dai Kurakawa, EPA}