Renewable Energy Technologies in the Global South: Insights from Africa

Africa possesses vast untapped renewable energy resources, including 60% of global solar resources, yet accounts for only 1.6% of global installed renewable capacity. The continent faces significant barriers to energy transition, including a massive financing gap—requiring $557 billion by 2030—and a heavy reliance on imported technologies, with Africa contributing less than 1% of global clean energy patent applications. While the region holds 40% of global critical mineral reserves essential for green technologies, it primarily serves as a raw material supplier. The document advocates for strengthened partnerships with the G20 and Global North to improve climate finance, facilitate technology transfer, and develop local green value chains to move beyond the export of primary commodities.

• Africa has immense untapped renewable energy potential, hosting 60% of global solar resources, though less than 1% of this has been exploited. Additionally, 89% of the continent's hydropower potential remains untapped, and it has wind resources capable of producing approximately 180,000 Terawatt hours (TWh) per annum.
• The continent suffers from severe energy poverty and low adoption rates of renewable capacity, accounting for only 1.6% of global installed renewable energy capacity. As of 2021, approximately 600 million people lacked electricity and 970 million lacked clean cooking energy.
• Africa is a critical source of minerals for the global energy transition, holding 40% of global critical mineral reserves. This includes the world's largest bauxite reserves in Guinea, over 70% of global cobalt production in the DRC, and 90% of global platinum group metal reserves in South Africa.
• There is a substantial financing gap for Africa's energy transition; the continent requires $557 billion to address energy gaps by 2030 and $277 billion annually to implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). However, Africa accounted for only 0.6% of global renewable energy investment in 2021.
• Africa is heavily dependent on the Global North for renewable technology and lacks intellectual property ownership, contributing less than 1% of total global clean energy patent applications. The US, Japan, Germany, and China together hold 75% of renewable energy patents.
• The electric vehicle (EV) sector in Africa is in its early stages, with fewer than 3,000 vehicles in circulation by 2021. Adoption is hindered by high ownership costs due to a lack of local manufacturing, limited charging infrastructure, and costly electricity.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2024). Renewable Energy Technologies in the Global South: Insights from Africa. https://saiia.org.za/research/renewable-energy-technologies-in-the-global-south-insights-from-africa/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Renewable Energy Technologies in the Global South: Insights from Africa. 2024. https://saiia.org.za/research/renewable-energy-technologies-in-the-global-south-insights-from-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Renewable Energy Technologies in the Global South: Insights from Africa |date=26 July 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/renewable-energy-technologies-in-the-global-south-insights-from-africa/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2024renewable, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Renewable Energy Technologies in the Global South: Insights from Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/renewable-energy-technologies-in-the-global-south-insights-from-africa/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }