Africa lags as global renewable energy hits 3870 gigawatts

Dof renewable energy in Africa is still far behind as the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA), yesterday, said deployment last year hit a record high of 473 gigawatts ( GW) to push global renewable energy capacity to 3870GW.

The development which showed that renewables last year accounted for 86 per cent of capacity additions in the power sector saw capacity in the entire African region growing by a meagre 4.6 per cent. IRENA, in a new report that measures capacity highlights in the renewable energy sector showed that the expansion was led once again by Asia with a 69 per cent share, which translates to 326 GW.

China stood out with a whopping 63 per cent increase, which brought the Asia country to 297.6 GW.

“This reflects a glaring gap with other regions, leaving a vast majority of developing countries behind, despite massive economic and development needs. Even though Africa has seen some growth, it paled in comparison with an increase of 4.6 per cent reaching a total capacity of 62 GW,” IRENA said in its report.

IRENA Director- General, Francesco La Camera said the extraordinary surge in renewable generation capacity shows that renewables are the only technology available to rapidly scale up the energy transition in alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

“Nevertheless, the data also serves as a telltale sign that progress is not moving fast enough to add the required 7.2 TW of renewable power within the next seven years, by IRENA’S World Energy Transitions Outlook 1.5° C Scenario,” he added.

The body called for policy interventions and a global course correction to urgently overcome barriers and create local value in emerging markets and developing countries like Nigeria.

Apart from Asia, the other regions that saw significant expansion were the Middle East. The growth rate in the Middle East was 16.6 per cent increase and in Oceania at 9.4 per cent increase. The G7 countries as a group increased by 7.6 per cent adding 69.4 GW last year.

IRENA, in its 1.5° C Scenario recommends a massive scaling up of financing and strong international collaboration to speed up the energy transition, putting developing countries as a key priority.

The report said: “Investments are needed in power grids, generation, flexibility and storage. The pathway towards tripled renewable power capacity by 2030 requires a strengthening of institutions, policies and skills”.