Placing sustainable and renewable energy transition at the center of Change

Every year the world celebrates International Day of clean energy in its importance  in creating a sustainable future. The theme for this year was “Clean Energy for People and the Planet,” emphasizing the need for a sustainable and renewable energy transition to address climate change and enhance environmental resilience. For Africa, this transition serves as an environmental obligation, representing a way to achieve climate justice and enhance the well-being of communities.

Africa’s energy landscape is a paradox. Despite being rich in renewable energy resources—from abundant sunlight to vast wind corridors and significant hydro and geothermal potential—the continent remains greatly afflicted by energy poverty. Approximately 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity, and the reliance on fossil fuels and traditional biomass worsens environmental and health problems. Clean energy offers a solution, allowing Africa to go forward with sustainable energy systems that are both inclusive and equitable. This transition is a chance to address long-standing injustices and guarantee that no one falls behind in the fight against climate change.

Climate justice is about fairness, ensuring that those most impacted by climate change, who are frequently the least responsible for its causes, receive attention in solutions. Clean energy serves as the foundation for this justice framework. Renewable energy projects bring reliable power to underserved populations, improving access to education, healthcare, and economic possibilities. Clean energy technologies, such as solar home systems and microgrids, can help rural communities bridge the energy gap by providing inexpensive and long-term solutions. In his East African Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization 2024, Aguda argues that shifting from fossil fuels to renewables helps minimize the effects of climate change, which disproportionately harm Africa’s most vulnerable communities.

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), an organization dedicated to climate justice in Africa, has been in the lead of promoting renewable energy solutions that drive social and environmental transformation. Through projects, workshops and training programs, local communities are empowered with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and maintain clean energy technologies. We work with governments and regional bodies to advocate for policies that prioritize renewable energy investments and ensure equitable access. The expected outcomes by 2025 are that regional bodies harmonize and multilaterally enforce common customs Act for renewable energy and that the regional development banks and Chinese financial institutions reduce investments in coal power and increase investments in renewable energy

Limited financial resources, inconsistent regulatory frameworks, and poor infrastructure are challenges in scaling renewable energy projects, but they also present opportunities. For instance, Africa’s annual infrastructure financing gap is estimated at $68–$108 billion, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB). This shortfall can drive innovation in financing models, such as public-private partnerships, which already account for over 30% of infrastructure financing in Africa. Furthermore, international financial institutions such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund demonstrate the possibility of utilizing global resources to accelerate the clean energy transition.

Improved infrastructure in remote areas also create opportunities for innovative energy distribution strategies. For example, mini-grids and solar home systems, which are projected to provide electricity to over 265 million people by 2030, are becoming viable options in underserved regions. Additionally, more than 60% of the population in Africa are youth under 25, making it the continent with the fastest-growing youth population globally. This climate-conscious generation represents direction for leadership and innovation, with initiatives like the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice empowering youth with the knowledge and tools to advocate for climate justice in their countries.

What is the expert view?

To get more insight on the current status of Africa’s energy landscape, and its place in advancing energy transition, we spoke to  Ms. Hope Okuthe, an expert in PACJA’s department of Energy and Access. Hope provides important energy information and how it is important to transition to clean energy.

What key aspects of Africa’s energy landscape do you think are underreported or misunderstood?

Hope O.: Africa has abundant renewable energy resources, particularly solar, wind and geothermal energy. The continent enjoys more hours of intense sunlight than any other region globally, creating ideal conditions for solar energy investments. Despite this natural advantage, Africa continues to attract only a fraction of global renewable energy investments, leaving much of this potential untapped.

Discussions on energy often focus on the number of people without electricity but this approach usually fails to capture the other dimensions of energy inequality. For example, rural communities face greater challenges than those in urban areas due to limited infrastructure development, higher connection costs and fewer resources devoted to their energy needs. Within households the burden of energy poverty falls on women and children due to their traditional roles in domestic energy management. Women shoulder the responsibility for collecting biomass fuels, cooking over inefficient stoves, managing household energy needs – activities that consume considerable time and effort while exposing them to harmful indoor air pollution. Children’s education and development opportunities are similarly constrained when they must assist with fuel collection or study under inadequate lighting.

Africa faces unique challenges navigating the global energy transition. While international stakeholders advocate for African nations to leapfrog to renewables, many countries still rely on fossil fuels for economic development. Oil-producing nations face particularly complicated transition pathways, as rapidly abandoning these resources could threaten economic stability and social development. A balanced approach that includes both fossil fuels and renewables may be necessary for some countries to achieve energy security and economic development in the short to medium term – recognizing that transition timelines must be tailored to each country’s unique circumstances.

Africa’s renewable energy landscape is increasingly shaped by local innovation and entrepreneurship, yet the narrative often focuses on foreign investments. Across the continent, there are African-led startups and entrepreneurs pioneering solutions tailored to local contexts, for example Pay-As-You-Go solar systems making clean energy accessible to remote communities and bioenergy solutions utilizing local resources. However, most of these ventures face challenges to scaling their operations, primarily due to funding gaps, limited access to capital and investment ecosystems that are not favorable.

What are the key political and economic interests shaping Africa’s clean energy transition?

Hope O: African nations are increasingly committing to global climate goals such as the Paris Agreement, adopting ambitious emission reduction targets and clean energy policies to demonstrate environmental leadership and attract climate finance and investment. However, these commitments and pressure to rapidly adopt renewable technologies often comes from the same countries historically responsible for carbon emissions. This creates an imbalance when external funders impose transient timelines or specific technological solutions without adequately considering local priorities, economic realities or development needs.

As far as Clean energy transition is concerned, this  presents African nations with both a challenge and an opportunity for economic transformation, where success hinges on creating meaningful employment while ensuring equitable distribution of benefits. As countries shift towards renewable energy systems, strategic planning becomes essential to develop local manufacturing capabilities, build technical expertise and establish new industry sectors that can absorb workers, particularly those employed in the fossil fuel industries. The multifaceted transition requires thoughtful policy frameworks that prioritize inclusive job creation, skills development programs that prepare workers for emerging opportunities, and intentional efforts to ensure that marginalized communities and regions are not left behind as economies restructure around cleaner energy systems.

To this context, African nations prioritize addressing widespread energy poverty – where millions lack reliable electricity access – as a fundamental prerequisite for economic development and improved living standards. Environmental concerns also remain important and policy makers must balance these against immediate developmental imperatives, explaining why many countries pursue diverse energy portfolios that include both renewable and conventional sources.

On the other hand, many countries face energy poverty, with millions lacking access to electricity. African governments view energy as crucial for economic development and industrialization. Thus, they often prioritize energy access over the source of energy as long as it is reliable and affordable so as to improve living standards and drive economic growth.

 To be able to address this challenge, Africa’s energy transition requires substantial financial resources, technical expertise and policy guidance that often exceeds domestic capacities. International partnerships through multilateral development banks, climate funds and bilateral agreements can provide the necessary capital investments, technology transfer and capacity building to accelerate clean energy deployment while ensuring that projects meet local needs.

What are some indigenous or traditional African energy practices that have been overlooked in mainstream discussions?

Hope O.: Traditional cooking techniques across Africa have evolved over the centuries. Biomass, particularly firewood and charcoal, have been a primary source of energy for cooking and heating in many African communities. While these practices face legitimate criticism for contributing to deforestation and indoor air pollution, traditional biomass use can be made more sustainable through improved stoves and deforestation efforts. Many communities have used fuel-efficient stoves made from clay, ceramic and metal, which reduce wood consumption and smoke emissions compared to open fires. Notable innovations include earthen stoves with precise air flow management, techniques for using ash as natural insulation around cooking pots to retain heat, and community-based forest management systems that ensure sustainable harvesting.

In addition to this, biogas production from animal dung has been used by pastoralist communities as a fuel source for cooking and heating. This practice can be modernized through biogas digesters, which convert organics waste into methane for clean energy. Modern digesters not only provide a cleaner-burning cooking and lighting fuel that eliminates indoor air pollution associated with direct dung burning, but also produce organic fertilizer as a byproduct.

So, traditional African communities have long used sunlight to preserve food and medicinal plants. This low-tech energy efficient practice reduces post-harvest losses and is still widely used today.  In desert regions, traditional architectural techniques such as mud brick homes with thick walls, thatched roofs and wind towers were ingeniously designed to provide natural cooling, significantly reducing the need for energy-intensive air conditioning systems.

In a nutshell, for centuries, African communities have practiced indigenous forestry and sustainable land management through agroforestry and regreening techniques. These have played an important role in preserving fuelwood resources, restoring degraded lands, and combating desertification. These traditional practices such as intercropping trees with crops and regenerating natural vegetation, demonstrate a deep understanding of ecological balance and resource conservation.

What are the most promising clean energy technologies suited for Africa’s unique energy challenges?

Hope O.: Let me start with solar PV systems, which are exceptionally well-suited and highly effective for Africa, given the continent’s abundant sunlight. They can be deployed in both grids connected and off-grid settings, making them a versatile and ideal solution for rural electrification.

Solar mini-grids equipped with storage offer a reliable energy source for communities without access to national grids.

We have witnessed that Pay-As-You-Go solar home systems combined with mobile payment infrastructure and modular solar technology has revolutionized energy access. Many households are now connected through innovative financing modes that overcome upfront cost barriers through affordable, flexible payment plans.

Secondly, Geothermal energy is another source of energy which has potential in East Africa, where abundant resources can be tapped to provide reliable, baseload power, addressing energy access challenges and supporting sustainable development in the region.

Thirdly,  large-scale wind farms are other opportunities which  can contribute to and bolster national grids and drive industrial development by providing clean, reliable energy. In this case, small-scale wind solutions such as decentralized wind turbines offer an alternative for rural communities, enabling localized energy access and supporting off-grid electrification efforts.

Lastly, Agricultural residues, animal waste and energy crops have been offering  biomass and biofuels which are used to produce biogas, biofuels and electricity, offering sustainable energy solutions. Modern biogas digesters in particular, provide a practical way to convert organic waste into clean cooking fuel and electricity for rural households, thus improving energy access and reducing environmental impact for rural households.

Are there innovative financing models or partnerships helping scale renewable energy?

Hope O.: Yes. For instance, Pay-As-You-Go systems that I mentioned earlier, have revolutionized energy access by allowing customers to pay for renewable energy systems in small, affordable instalments via mobile money platforms. This approach has enabled many low-income households to overcome upfront cost barriers. Companies like MKOPA in Kenya and PEG Africa in Ghana have successfully scaled this model, bringing clean energy to millions.

Green bonds have also emerged as a powerful financial tool, designed to raise capital for renewable energy projects and drive sustainable development across the continent

What should communities and individuals know about accessing clean energy solutions?

Hope O.: They should know first that  there are various  clean energy solutions, such as Off-grid solar solutions, improved cook stoves and biogas systems are transforming energy across Africa. Energy efficient cookstoves such as Jikokoa in Kenya, can reduce reliance on wood and charcoal, lowering costs and improving health, while biogas systems convert animal waste into clean cooking fuel.

Furthermore, small-scale hydropower and wind energy may harness local rivers and wind resources to provide reliable community energy solutions, particularly in rural areas. Solar energy, through panels, home systems and water heaters, offers versatile and scalable options, complemented by small-scale wind turbines and micro-hydropower systems for decentralized energy access.

But while we are talking  about  solutions, it’s very important  to also think about Financing and payment options. For example, Pay-As-You-Go solar systems and community energy initiatives are making clean energy more accessible across Africa. Pay-As-You-Go models allow households to pay for solar systems in small, affordable installments via mobile money, overcoming upfront cost barriers. In addition, community initiatives enable groups to pool resources for shared investments in solar mini-grids or biogas digesters. Although clean energy systems may have high initial costs, they often lead to long-term savings compared to fossil fuels. Other financing options include microfinance for small loans, subsidies and grants from governments or NGOs and crowdfunding for larger projects.               

As we  encourage communities to adopt  affordable clean energy solutions, we also advise them to choose the Right Clean Energy Solution.  We tell them that choosing the right clean energy solution begins with assessing your energy needs, such as powering lights, TVs, fridges or water pumps to determine the most suitable system. It is essential to prioritize quality and reliability by selecting certified products that meet recognized standards and come with warranties and dependable after-sales service.

Is there any of PACJA’s key initiatives that advocate for clean energy and climate justice?

Hope O.: Sure. ACSEA  is one of them. This is an alliance that was formed to advocate for a shift from fossil fuels to renewable and sustainable energy across Africa.

On Climate justice and equity-PACJA champions climate justice by addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized communities and advocating for equitable access to clean energy and climate finance, through grassroot mobilization, the alliance empowers local communities to engage in climate action, supports sustainable development initiatives and amplifying their voices in the fight for environmental justice.

To ensure  this is  effectively done, PACJA collaborates with African governments to develop and implement climate-resilient, low-carbon development policies, while advocating for the integration of clean energy and climate justice into national development plans and strategies. Additionally, on Global climate negotiations, PACJA actively engages in international climate forums, including UNFCCC conferences, to advocate for fair and equitable climate policies, while urging developed nations to fulfill their climate finance commitments and support Africa’s clean energy transition

How does Africa compare with other regions in terms of progress in renewable energy deployment?

While Africa’s installed renewable energy capacity is relatively low compared to other regions, it is expanding quickly with renewables contributing approximately 22% of the continent’s total electricity generation as of 2023, primarily driven by solar. Solar and wind energy are increasingly gaining momentum, with countries like South Africa, Morocco and Kenya at the forefront of this growth. However, despite its immense renewable energy potential, Africa receives less than 2% of global renewable energy investments, highlighting a gap in funding and support. This underinvestment limits the continent’s ability to fully harness its abundant solar, wind and other renewable resources, which could otherwise transform energy access, drive economic growth and support global climate goals.

Africa’s clean energy transition offers technological advancement, economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and social justice. Frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the African Continental Power Systems Master Plan (CMP), and the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) provide strategic blueprints for scaling up renewable energy. Additionally, agreements like the Paris Agreement, the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative, the African Clean Energy Corridor (ACEC), and the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Initiative emphasize the continent’s commitment to a just energy transition. Strengthening these frameworks and ensuring inclusive implementation will drive Africa toward a sustainable and equitable energy future, redefining its energy future and serving as a model for climate justice globally.