(average of 57.9% across the continent), most of this renewable energy comes from
traditional biomass used in the household sector (UNECA 2018).
It is doubtful that the current and future electricity demand will be met without
significant changes in the national energy systems (Leimbach et al. 2018). Improving access to electricity would require an additional investment of USD 27–33
billion per annum until 2030, which is beyond the capacity of many countries
(Dagnachew et al. 2018). However, it might be possible to meet some of this demand
through domestic resources as many SSA countries have enormous renewable
energy potential, especially hydropower and solar energy (da Silva et al. 2018;
IEA 2019). However, most SSA countries are unable to expand renewable energy
production effectively due to the combined challenges posed by funding constraints,
institutional constraints and the lack of capacity and a good understanding of
available potential (IEA 2019; UNECA 2018). For instance, Cameroon has been
unable to tap into its high renewable energy potential, primarily due to the lack of
clear policies, skilled labour, infrastructure, as well as the high prevalence of
corruption and mismanagement (Mboumboue and Njomo 2016). Similarly, many
Western African countries fail to tap their vast potential for small-scale hydropower
due to the absence of reliable hydro-climatic data, low awareness, financial and
technical limitations and policy and institutional constraints (Stanzel et al. 2018;
Mohammed et al. 2013). Some scholars are concerned that the major needed shift to
renewables could increase electricity costs, and thus put a further burden to poor
consumers (Dagnachew et al. 2018). Therefore, affordability would be another
challenge related to the sustained adoption of renewable energy options in many
SSA countries.
Actually transforming the domestic energy systems across SSA would require
many deep changes including, among others, (a) extensive fuel switch from solid
Fig. 1.8 Access to electricity in SSA and selected countries (in % of the population). Source:
(World Bank 2018a)
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
19
traditional biomass used in the household sector (UNECA 2018).
It is doubtful that the current and future electricity demand will be met without
significant changes in the national energy systems (Leimbach et al. 2018). Improving access to electricity would require an additional investment of USD 27–33
billion per annum until 2030, which is beyond the capacity of many countries
(Dagnachew et al. 2018). However, it might be possible to meet some of this demand
through domestic resources as many SSA countries have enormous renewable
energy potential, especially hydropower and solar energy (da Silva et al. 2018;
IEA 2019). However, most SSA countries are unable to expand renewable energy
production effectively due to the combined challenges posed by funding constraints,
institutional constraints and the lack of capacity and a good understanding of
available potential (IEA 2019; UNECA 2018). For instance, Cameroon has been
unable to tap into its high renewable energy potential, primarily due to the lack of
clear policies, skilled labour, infrastructure, as well as the high prevalence of
corruption and mismanagement (Mboumboue and Njomo 2016). Similarly, many
Western African countries fail to tap their vast potential for small-scale hydropower
due to the absence of reliable hydro-climatic data, low awareness, financial and
technical limitations and policy and institutional constraints (Stanzel et al. 2018;
Mohammed et al. 2013). Some scholars are concerned that the major needed shift to
renewables could increase electricity costs, and thus put a further burden to poor
consumers (Dagnachew et al. 2018). Therefore, affordability would be another
challenge related to the sustained adoption of renewable energy options in many
SSA countries.
Actually transforming the domestic energy systems across SSA would require
many deep changes including, among others, (a) extensive fuel switch from solid
Fig. 1.8 Access to electricity in SSA and selected countries (in % of the population). Source:
(World Bank 2018a)
1 Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of the. . .
19