Powering Africa

The SADC region faces a significant electricity supply-demand gap, with 68% of residents lacking access and a heavy reliance on coal, primarily driven by South Africa. The report argues for a dual approach: strengthening the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) through better regional regulation and transboundary projects, and scaling up renewable energy mini-grids in rural areas. It highlights that while the region has vast solar, wind, and hydro potential, investment is hindered by poor policy frameworks and the financial insolvency of national utilities.

• The SADC region suffers from a severe electricity deficit, with 68% of residents in member states lacking access to electricity. In the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), the regional shortfall was estimated at 16,536 MW by the end of 2015 when accounting for peak demand and required reserves.
• Electricity generation in the region is heavily dominated by coal, largely due to South Africa's role as the primary producer. South Africa is responsible for 80% of the region's electricity capacity, with over 90% of its own generation coming from coal, making it the world's fourteenth largest CO2 emitter as of 2016.
• The region possesses immense untapped renewable energy potential. Less than 1% of the estimated 2,195 TWh annual solar PV potential and less than 1% of the 800 TWh wind power potential are currently utilised. Hydropower is also significant, with the Grand Inga scheme in the Democratic Republic of Congo envisioned to provide 46 GW of capacity.
• Regional power trade through the SAPP is constrained by inadequate infrastructure, poor cross-border policy coordination, and the financial insolvency of national utilities caused by politically-motivated low tariffs. This creates a vulnerability where shocks in South Africa's energy sector, such as the 2008/2009 crisis, cause blackouts in neighbouring Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
• Decentralised mini-grids are a viable complement to grid extension, particularly in rural areas. While various technologies (solar, wind, hydro, biomass) are used, their penetration remains low. The most sustainable models follow the 'anchor-business-community' (A-B-C) approach, which secures a large 'anchor' consumer to ensure reliable revenue.
• The deployment of renewable mini-grids is slowed by vague policy frameworks and a bias toward grid-based electrification. Most off-grid solutions are viewed as temporary 'pilots' rather than permanent infrastructure, and they often lack the financing mechanisms needed to attract private investment due to the low income of rural end-users.

APA

Johnson, O., Muhoza, C., Ogeya, M., Lindstrom, A., Granit, J., & Rosner, K. (2018). Powering Africa. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/180517a-gill-johnson-powering-africa-report-1804a.pdf

Chicago

Johnson, Oliver, Cassilde Muhoza, Mbeo Ogeya, Andreas Lindstrom, Jakob Granit, and Kevin Rosner. Powering Africa. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2018. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/180517a-gill-johnson-powering-africa-report-1804a.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Johnson |first1=Oliver |last2=Muhoza |first2=Cassilde |last3=Ogeya |first3=Mbeo |last4=Lindstrom |first4=Andreas |last5=Granit |first5=Jakob |last6=Rosner |first6=Kevin |title=Powering Africa |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=May 2018 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/180517a-gill-johnson-powering-africa-report-1804a.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{johnson2018powering, author = {Johnson, Oliver and Muhoza, Cassilde and Ogeya, Mbeo and Lindstrom, Andreas and Granit, Jakob and Rosner, Kevin}, title = {{Powering Africa}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/180517a-gill-johnson-powering-africa-report-1804a.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }