Energies renouvelables en Afrique subsaharienne [1] by C. Kapseu, N. Djongyang, G. Elambo Nkeng, M. Petsoko and D. Ayuk Mbi Egbe.
By re-reading societal projects in terms of their sustainability, Africa has been able to move beyond a purely quantitative analysis of development and to identify clear thematic principles and priorities. One of these is energy security. In the coming decades, Africa must increase its energy consumption if it is to achieve its development objectives. At the same time, in order to combat global warming, it is important for developing countries to embark on a development path that is low in greenhouse gas emissions. It is in this context that our five co-authors present an overview of renewable energies, focusing on the African region.
Also known as green energy or clean energy, renewable energy refers to forms of energy that come from non-exhaustible natural sources: the sun, wind, heat from the earth, waterfalls, tides, and plant growth. This book is devoted to the challenges and opportunities offered by the various renewable energy sectors in the context of the African continent.
The authors first turn to hydroelectric power, obtained by converting hydraulic energy from different water flows into electricity. Although hydropower is considered to be a clean and inexhaustible energy source, this energy source may nonetheless have environmental impacts depending on the type and size of the structure that is built. These impacts can become very significant if dams and artificial water reservoirs have to be built. In this case, the disappearance of agricultural land and villages, as well as the disruption of wildlife movement, is generally criticized. However, hydropower still has a strong potential for rural electrification.
It should also be noted that Africa is probably the continent where the need for electricity is most urgent. 65% of the population does not have access to electricity, which is an essential tool for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The African continent is endowed with a significant hydroelectric potential estimated at over 436,000 MW. However, less than 7% of this potential is currently being used. With 7 major rivers, Africa has 10% of the world’s hydropower potential, which must be developed for the electrification of the continent.
The second energy mentioned in the book is solar energy, produced by the sun’s radiation (free and inexhaustible). Africa has one of the best climates for this type of energy. It has been used for a very long time on a small scale in private homes to dry animal skins, crop produce and clothes, and evaporate sea water to extract salt. On a larger scale, it is used for power generation and telecommunications. Studies have shown that solar energy in Africa has a quantitative potential to cover most energy needs on the continent. Despite these geographical conjunctions and the pressing needs of the population, it is surprising that solar energy is still fairly marginal. As the authors state in the book, African countries need to be creative in this area.
Wind energy is produced by wind turbines that capture the kinetic energy of the wind through their blades and drive a generator to produce renewable electricity. According to US Energy Agency statistics, the main producers of wind power in Africa are Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa. The high initial cost of wind power has not deterred these countries, which are launching pilot projects and establishing wind power development programs for the private sector. Outside of these countries, another example is Senegal, a country whose use of wind power is almost exclusively limited to pumping water to hamlets and villages for drinking. Even if Senegal does not have the best wind energy deposits in the world, it does have interesting wind energy potential that is waiting to be exploited. Wind energy is not taking off on the African continent due to many legislative, regulatory, financial, economic, technical and informational barriers, which the African Development Bank should help to overcome.
The authors also present biomass and geothermal energy as sources of energy with considerable potential, the exploitation of which could be beneficial to Africa.
In addition to addressing global environmental concerns (desertification, greenhouse gases, etc.), renewable energies also help to reduce the negative impact of the energy system on the local and regional environment. They are particularly relevant in rural areas where energy supply and technologies used for cooking and transport deserve special attention. For Africa in general, the prospects for renewable energy are interesting because the context is favorable. In this respect, forecasts by the International Renewable Energy Agency indicate that, with appropriate means, renewable energies could account for up to 67% of electricity production in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. But like other sectors of the economy, the renewable energy sector faces major barriers to investment. Reforms are therefore needed in both the public and private sectors to support renewable energy development strategies.”Africa knows where it needs to go. The big question is how. And more to the point: what is the most cost-effective energy mix that can be built to provide all the new electricity capacity needed?”*
*https://afrique.latribune.fr/think-tank/tribunes/2022-03-19/une-adoption-massive-des-energies-renouvelables-en-afrique-menera-a-des-milliards-de-dollars-d-economie-906186.html
Zélie Gankon, PhD student, Social norms and environmental reforms in emerging countries.
[1] Kapseu C., Djongyang, N., Elambo Nkeng, G. , Petsoko, M. , Ayuk Mbi Egbe, D., 2012, Energies renouvelables en Afrique subsaharienne, Harmattan Cameroun Edition.