ACSEA: Private Sector Needed to Scale up Energy Access in Africa

The African Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access (ACSEA) has called for more private sector investment to increase energy access in Africa.

With half the population without electricity, Africa has the most people without energy in the world.

It needs about $55 billion annually until 2030 to remedy the situation.

Energy is a key issue in a series of events ACSEA is co-hosting with the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance and WWF’s Regional Energy Hub in preluded to the Ninth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa taking place in Sal, Cape Verde.

Renewable energy is now considered key in enhancing access and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector.

Participants at the energy pre-event called for greater coordination to marshal currently dispersed efforts.

With interest growing, the continent has more than 48 renewable energy initiatives, according to multiple reports.

High affinity for fossils fuels, especially coal, also threatens a low carbon pathway on the continent.

ACSEA and PACJA are working with WWF to implement a project to address the planned expansion of coal in Africa’s energy mix; inadequate planning and investment in non-hydro renewable energy; and energy access in rural communities.