In 2022, electricity consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa was predominantly reliant on fossil-based sources, with more than 60% of generated electricity coming from fossil fuels. Among these, coal contributed the largest share at just over 40%. Natural gas was also a significant contributor, providing close to 15% of electricity. However, there is a substantial proportion of low-carbon energy as well, with clean sources like hydropower making up more than a quarter of the electricity supply. Solar, wind, and geothermal combined played a smaller role as clean electricity sources, while nuclear energy provided almost 2% of the region's electricity. The reliance on low-carbon energy is a positive sign for sustainable development, though the heavy dependence on coal remains a primary concern for environmental and health implications.

Is Electricity Growing in Sub-Saharan Africa?

In terms of growth, electricity consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa has faced challenges. The total electricity consumption per person decreased from its 2012 peak of 450 kWh to 418 kWh in 2022, indicating a worrisome decline of 32 kWh over the decade. While the region has seen a slight increase in low-carbon electricity generation, with a rise from 152 kWh per person in 2021 to 158 kWh per person in 2022, the overall picture of stagnating or falling consumption is concerning. This stagnation could hinder efforts to meet future energy demands and drive economic development. The growth in low-carbon electricity, although positive, underscores the need for further expansion and investment in clean energy sources.

Suggestions

To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Sub-Saharan Africa can look to successful examples from other regions. Solar and wind energy present significant opportunities for expansion, given the region’s abundant solar resources and increasing wind technology efficiency. Countries like Namibia and Botswana with similar sunny climates might learn from Nevada and California where solar contributes significantly to electricity generation. Furthermore, considering the successes in nuclear technology in countries like France and Slovakia, which both generate around two-thirds of their electricity from nuclear energy, embracing nuclear could be transformative for Sub-Saharan Africa. Building infrastructure for nuclear energy and robust grids for solar and wind will help the region reduce dependency on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions, aligning with green energy goals.

History

In the past decade, Sub-Saharan Africa has seen fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation. In the early 2010s, hydropower was a significant contributor with consistent annual increases, particularly notable in 2014 and 2017. However, after an initial increase in nuclear capacity in 2013, there have been significant declines, such as those experienced in 2018 and 2020, hampering efforts to maintain a steady growth in nuclear power generation. Yet, the region has made positive strides, especially in increasing output from solar from 2021 onwards and wind energy in the same period. In recent years, hydropower gains continued alongside advancements in solar capacity by 2022, signaling potential for better energy mix diversification with sustained investments and policy support toward low-carbon electricity sources.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade