AU-EU Partnership to Promote Sustainable Energy Transitions

The policy brief examines the opportunities and challenges of a sustainable energy transition partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). It highlights Africa's vast renewable energy potential and the possibility of energy trade via Power-to-X technologies, while cautioning that the EU must avoid post-colonial rhetoric and provide tailor-made incentives for fossil-fuel-dependent African nations. The authors recommend joint vision formulation, large-scale green infrastructure investment through blended finance, and a focus on job creation and education to ensure a just transition.

• Africa faces severe energy deficits, with approximately 600 million people lacking electricity and 900 million lacking access to clean cooking, representing the lowest coverage globally.
• The continent possesses significant renewable energy potential, particularly in solar power in the Sahara and North Africa, and could meet 25% of its energy needs from domestic clean renewables by 2030.
• Power-to-X technologies, which convert renewable energy into synthetic fuels like green hydrogen, offer a pathway for African countries to generate revenue through energy exports to the EU.
• A sustainable transition is politically complex for fossil-fuel-dependent African nations; for example, South Africa and Botswana rely on coal for over 90% of electricity, while Algeria, Angola, and Nigeria derive about 95% of export revenues from fossil fuels.
• The EU's European Green Deal may be perceived as using post-colonial rhetoric, and its potential carbon border taxes could restrict African market access, making diplomatic sensitivity and joint vision-setting essential.
• To facilitate a just transition, the EU should provide tailor-made incentives, including blended finance for green infrastructure, technology transfer, and re-skilling programs for workers in the fossil fuel sector.

APA

HÖGL, M., & IACOBUTA, G. (2020). AU-EU Partnership to Promote Sustainable Energy Transitions. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Brieifng-209-Hogl-Iacobuta.pdf

Chicago

HÖGL, MAXIMILIAN, and GABRIELA IACOBUTA. AU-EU Partnership to Promote Sustainable Energy Transitions. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Brieifng-209-Hogl-Iacobuta.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=HÖGL |first1=MAXIMILIAN |last2=IACOBUTA |first2=GABRIELA |title=AU-EU Partnership to Promote Sustainable Energy Transitions |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Brieifng-209-Hogl-Iacobuta.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hgl2020aueu, author = {HÖGL, MAXIMILIAN and IACOBUTA, GABRIELA}, title = {{AU-EU Partnership to Promote Sustainable Energy Transitions}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Brieifng-209-Hogl-Iacobuta.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }