UN: Africa a Possible Center for Renewable Energy
2022-04-07
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1A big United Nations climate report brought attention to Africa's potential for renewable kinds of energy production.
2The report said renewable energy projects could reduce the effects of global warming and support Africa's economic development.
3The U.N.'s most recent Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change report comes at a time when Africa's renewable energy business is already increasing.
4Many African nations are increasing efforts to use more renewable energy such as solar and wind energy.
5They are moving away from dependence on fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas.
6Countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa are reportedly taking the lead in clean energy use.
7However, Africa has received just two percent - $60 billion - of the $2.8 trillion invested in renewable energy worldwide in the last 20 years.
8It also accounts for only three percent of the world's current renewable energy capacity.
9More renewable energy programs, such as Kenya's Lake Turkana Wind Power, launched in 2019, are needed.
10That project is estimated to make up 18 percent of the country's energy production.
11The company's chief, Phylip Leferink, said large projects like these can be copied, but difficulties remain.
12Solar power that is not connected to power lines is also providing Kenyans with energy.
13In Nakuru county, 167 kilometers northwest of Nairobi, James Kariuki signed up for M-Kopa solar power.
14It is a program requiring regular payments for solar electricity that is produced at his home.
15Kariuki said the use of solar power has helped his family make "considerable savings."
16He said, "Hospital bills for my family have gone down and we now have internet and watch international sports in my home."
17Since 2012, M-Kopa has provided services to over 225,000 homes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania using solar power not connected to power lines.
18Kenya has also been expanding its geothermal and bioenergy use for several years.
19These projects are a step in the right direction, said report writer and energy expert Yamina Saheb.
20Saheb spoke to the Associated Press.
21She said all of Africa could use solar electric energy and solar heat energy.
22And some countries could use wind energy.
23Solar energy projects such as the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex in Morocco, Benban solar park in Egypt and South Africa's Redstone solar park have appeared across Africa.
24The report said Africa has a world-leading potential for solar power projects.
25It said Africa has a solar electricity potential of up to 7900 gigawatts.
26Plans are also underway to explore geothermal energy in the East Africa's Great Rift Valley system.
27Other African nations, such as Angola, Sudan and Zambia, are investing in wind and hydropower from big dams.
28A change to clean energy is also "economically attractive" in some situations, the IPCC report said.
29The U.N. estimates that Africa's increased use of renewable energy will create more than 12 million new jobs.
30China remains the largest lender for Africa's renewable energy projects.
31Other major lenders include the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the Green Climate Fund.
32I'm John Russell.