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The report shows that Africa will need vast amounts of energy to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of its rapidly growing population
In addition to renewables, Africa will need significant amounts of nuclear energy, more hydro, and investment in energy storage.
This is according to the latest Institute for Security Studies (ISS) African Futures report.
The report indicates that currently small and modular nuclear energy reactors offer the most viable technology for meeting a significant amount of Africa’s base-load energy demand.
It states that the continent has an energy mountain to climb. It shows that Africa will need vast amounts of energy to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of its rapidly growing population. “Currently, we are more dependent on fossil fuels than any other region,” the report said.
Zooming into hydrogen, the report states that the role that hydrogen could play in Africa’s energy future is currently unclear.
“Energy from hydrogen has regularly attracted hype and disillusionment, and its journey towards becoming a ubiquitous fuel is bumpy at best, given the challenges of producing, transporting, and containing it.
“The most straightforward use of large-scale hydrogen is in hard-to-decarbonise areas of the economy, such as heavy industry, with limited application in Africa, given the low demand from these sectors. It is, instead, the potential for export as ammonia that is then converted back to hydrogen at the destination that attracts attention.
“Thus, with promises of $10.8 billion in investments from Germany, Namibia has the most ambitious plans to produce green hydrogen from its abundant solar and wind resources, turn it into ammonia, and then ship it to Europe.
The importance of a slower energy transition from fossil fuels in Africa
The report suggests that Africa needs support to allow a slower transition from fossil fuels; others need to give space while avoiding the danger of stranded assets.
In the recommendations highlighted, the report states that;
Africa will not be able to close the demand gap following the end of coal production by 2040 and sharp reductions in oil and gas by 2050. The continent needs space for a slower transition from fossil fuels while constraining greenhouse gas emissions.
Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of Congo, DR Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Libya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe will be most affected.
A carbon tax on countries with high per capita emissions and those that have historically benefitted from a high carbon growth path is needed to fund Africa’s energy transition. |
