Solar PV will lead new capacity additions in Africa, reaching a total installed capacity of 125GW by 2030, according to a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Installed total power generation capacity will almost double on the continent by 2030, rising from 260GW at the beginning of the decade to 510GW by the end, of which 125GW will be solely from solar PV.
The African Energy Outlook 2022 report estimates that between 2021 and 2030 over 40% of total capacity additions will come from solar PV.
Renewables will have an important role to provide new installed renewable capacity as Africa looks set to increase its demand by 75% by the end of the decade, going from 680TWh to 1.180TWh in 2030.
Moreover, solar PV will overtake hydropower as the first source of renewables in terms of total installed capacity and will have almost closed the gap with natural gas by 2030, the report said.
“Africa is home to 60% of the best solar resources globally, yet only 1% of installed solar PV capacity. Solar PV – already the cheapest source of power in many parts of Africa – outcompetes all sources continent-wide by 2030,” according to the IEA. PV Tech Premium has explored how energy sector neo-colonialism has held the continent back from greater renewable roll-out.
Source: ieefa
