Africa’s electricity generation capacity has grown at an average of 4.8% per annum since 2008; The Chamber remains determined in its commitment to seek a fair and just resolution that puts forth the interests of African people, businesses, investors and economic growth.
Total electricity generation in Africa stood at 870 terawatt hours (TWh) in the year 2019, an increase of 2.9% from 846 TWh in 2018. Africa’s electricity generation capacity has grown at an average of 4.8% per annum since 2008, compared to 2.7% globally. However, Africa’s share of global electricity generation has been around 3% since 2000.
The African Energy Chamber forecasts that this year’s generation is likely to range between 870-900 TWh if demand picks up aggressively throughout the year following the gradual removal of lockdown restrictions and economies opening more fully to international trade. Our base case forecast using a conservative 4.5% yearly growth shows that electricity generation on the continent will increase by 25%, 55% and 141% of 2020 baseline levels to reach 1,057, 1,138 and 2,047 TWh by 2025, 2035 and 2040 respectively. This increases to 1,520 by 2030 and 2,700 TWh by 2040 in a more aggressive push to expand capacity at 6%per annum.
The latter assessment is premised on Africa aggressively pushing to expand electricity supply and modern energy services within the framework of the Africa Agenda 2063 on energy and infrastructure development. This will ensure that generation expansion will outpace population growth on the continent (Africa will have 1.8 and 2.45 billion people by 2040 and 2050).
Regarding the supply mix, natural gas (39%) constitutes the largest element in Africa’s electricity generation mix, followed by coal (29%), hydro (15%) and oil (10%).
While nuclear energy accounted for another 2%, the share of renewables (RE) in Africa’s generation mix is growing, albeit at a lower-pace than in other regions (5%). Most of the renewables growth comes from solar, wind and geothermal power plants, and this expected to continue into 2030. Africa generated 830 megawatts (MW), 5,748 MW and 7,236 MW of geothermal, wind and solar installed capacity in 2019, signifying growth rates of 17.4 percent, 26.1% and 60.2% respectively since 2010.
Nonetheless, most of these renewables development on the continent are limited primarily to Northern (Morocco, Egypt) and South-Eastern Africa (South Africa, Kenya). Given the declining costs of key renewable technologies along with rising concerns over CO2 emissions, the level of renewables deployment, particularly solar and wind energy is expected to increase by 1.5% annually over the next decade to 2030.
Regarding sectorial electricity consumption, the industrial sector remains the continent’s largest user (41%) followed by residential (33%), commercial and public services (18%) and agriculture (4%). Transport consumes a small proportion (approximately 1%) while the remaining 3 percent was accounted for by other sectors.
At a sub-regional level, North Africa and South Africa account for more than 70% of Africa’s electricity demand.