Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022

As of 2022, the electricity consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which constitute around 63% of the total electricity generated. Nearly 42% of electricity comes from coal, and about 14% from gas. Meanwhile, low-carbon energy sources account for approximately 36% of the region's electricity mix. Hydropower is the most significant low-carbon energy source, making up about 28% of electricity generation. Wind, nuclear, and solar together represent a smaller fraction of the mix, with contributions of nearly 3%, 2%, and 2% respectively. Geothermal and biofuels collectively make up around 2%. Overall, while low-carbon sources provide a substantial portion of electricity, the region still relies heavily on fossil fuels, which poses challenges related to climate change and air pollution.

Suggestions

To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Sub-Saharan Africa can draw lessons from countries that have successfully integrated high shares of clean energy. For instance, France and Slovakia generate a major portion of their electricity—65% and 62% respectively—from nuclear energy, demonstrating its viability as a large-scale, low-carbon option. Similar climate conditions and economic situations make Uruguay's reliance on wind (35%) particularly relevant for parts of Sub-Saharan Africa like Kenya and Cape Verde, which have also made strides in wind energy. Additionally, Yemen and Chile show that solar power can significantly contribute to electricity generation, each producing 20% from this source. Adopting diverse, proven clean energy technologies can help the region reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and enhance electricity sustainability.

History

Historically, Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced notable changes in low-carbon electricity generation. In the mid-2010s, hydropower saw substantial growth, with significant increases in 2014 (6.8 TWh) and 2017 (6.1 TWh). Wind and solar began to make a mark around 2015, with wind increasing by 2.4 TWh and solar by 1.8 TWh that year. Nuclear energy had fluctuating performance; it saw substantial growth in 2016 with an increase of 2.8 TWh, but also experienced declines in 2018 (-2.6 TWh) and 2020 (-3.3 TWh). Between 2017 and 2021, hydropower continued its upward trend, particularly in 2018 (8.5 TWh) and 2020 (8.3 TWh). Recent years have seen mixed results for nuclear, with minor increases in 2021 (2.5 TWh) followed by a decline in 2022 (-2.3 TWh). Meanwhile, wind and solar continued to incrementally grow in the 2020s, reflecting a slow but ongoing shift towards diverse low-carbon energy sources.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources