RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: INSIGHTS FROM AFRICA

This policy brief examines the current state and potential of renewable energy technologies in Africa, highlighting the gap between the continent's vast natural resources and its low installed capacity. It analyzes barriers to the energy transition, including financing shortages, reliance on imported technology, and the need for better integration into green value chains, while providing recommendations for the African Union and G20 to support a just transition.

• Africa faces a severe energy access crisis despite having the fastest-growing population globally. As of 2021, approximately 600 million people lacked electricity and 970 million lacked clean cooking energy, with both figures projected to increase by 2030.
• There is a significant disparity between Africa's renewable energy potential and its actual production. The continent accounts for only 1.6% of global installed renewable energy capacity, and while it holds 60% of global solar resources, less than 1% of this potential has been exploited.
• Africa possesses 40% of the world's critical mineral reserves essential for the energy transition, including the world's largest bauxite reserves in Guinea and 90% of global platinum group metal reserves in South Africa. However, the continent is primarily integrated into global value chains as a supplier of raw materials rather than as a manufacturer of finished green technologies.
• The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Africa is in its early stages, with fewer than 3,000 vehicles in circulation by 2021. Growth is hindered by high ownership costs due to a lack of local manufacturing, insufficient charging infrastructure, and a lack of supportive legal frameworks.
• Africa suffers from a massive financing gap for its energy transition, requiring $557 billion by 2030 and $3 trillion by 2050. In 2021, Africa received only 0.6% of the $434 billion in global renewable energy investment, and annual climate finance flows were only $30 billion.
• Africa is heavily dependent on the Global North for renewable energy technology and intellectual property. The continent contributes less than 1% of total global clean energy patent applications, while five countries (US, Japan, Germany, Korea, and China) hold the vast majority of patents.

APA

NJOGU, H., & NYAWARE, B. (2024). RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: INSIGHTS FROM AFRICA. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SAIIA_PB_299_RenewableTechnologies.pdf

Chicago

NJOGU, HUMPHREY, and BRIAN NYAWARE. RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: INSIGHTS FROM AFRICA. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2024. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SAIIA_PB_299_RenewableTechnologies.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=NJOGU |first1=HUMPHREY |last2=NYAWARE |first2=BRIAN |title=RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: INSIGHTS FROM AFRICA |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SAIIA_PB_299_RenewableTechnologies.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{njogu2024renewable, author = {NJOGU, HUMPHREY and NYAWARE, BRIAN}, 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/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SAIIA_PB_299_RenewableTechnologies.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }