African example

Clark Cross doubts developing countries will choose renewable sources of energy over fossil fuels (Letters, 14 November), citing India and China as prime producers of CO2. It’s not easy to wean a country off fossil fuels, but the good news is that African countries are making great efforts to move away from dependence on these power sources.

The African Renewable Energy Initiative (Arei) was launched in 2015. Its goal was to increase renewable energy generation over the following 15 years, and was backed by all African heads of state. Solar power was seen as playing a leading role in the project, in a continent which has experienced intense heat from rising temperatures in recent years, with increasing frequency of droughts. Sub-saharan Africa has access to a wealth of primary renewable energy supplies – with enough hydro, wind, solar and geothermal resources to provide terawatts of power. The continent is also rich in fossil fuel reserves, and has an existing fossil-based energy sector. Vested interests in this sector, and the cost of moving towards renewable

energy, plus lack of local technical skills for operation and maintenance, have hitherto hindered the move from a dependence on fossil fuel.

This is changing. Lake Turkana Wind Farm in Kenya will soon provide the country with as much as 17 per cent of its annual energy needs. In the past, petroleum has accounted for 80 per cent of the country’s commercial energy requirements.

As a direct result of utilising its abundant natural resources, Africa has the potential to reduce its CO2 emissions by 27 per cent. Its people are showing the world what can be achieved with the will to do so.

CAROLYN TAYLOR

Wellbank Broughty Ferry, Dundee