Approximately half of the sub-Saharan African continent today does not have access to power. People who do have power pay on average almost two times as much as customers everywhere in the world. Power shortages cost the continent around 2 to 4% of GDP annually. And the large electricity needs will only increase.
Given that the people in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to grow from 1 billion in 2018 to over two billion in 2050, the electricity demand is projected to expand 3 percent annually. This takes into consideration a continuous increase in access to power in addition to greater energy efficiency.
Meeting that demand with present energy sources would have severe consequences for health and the environment. The current energy mix in Africa relies mostly on burning oil, coal, and traditional biomass (charcoal, wood, dry dung fuel).… Read the rest