3 Energy Transition in Africa: Context, Barriers and Strategies
89
meet demand thereby creating an energy dependence on the supplying
countries. Inevitably, the renewables market will become vulnerable to
the geopolitics of foreign supply (as in fossil fuels) and the danger of
disruptions.
71
Variability
A vast majority of renewable energy sources (i.e. wind, solar, hydro,
marine) are associated with seasonal, diurnal or weather changes and even
where their variability is predictable, the rate of change is not.
72 Feedstocks used in the production of biofuels are equally subject to seasonal
cycles. The variability of the individual renewable energy sources creates
uncertainty as to capability of meeting demand and as such is a constraint
to energy security.
Tied to variability is the fact that renewable energy sources are closely
related to climate conditions. It is thus expected that climate change
will have adverse implications on renewable energy sources. Changes in
temperature, wind patterns or cloudiness as a result of climate change
will further compound the variability of renewables.
73
Infrastructure reliability
The deployment of renewables almost always requires an upgrading
of the grid and investment in storage. This requires massive amounts
of metals and minerals. These metals and minerals are crucial in the
manufacture of equipment to generate, store and distribute renewable
energy.
74 They are however, depletable. Additionally, they are concentrated in a handful of countries. The supply of these minerals therefore
affects the production, distribution and storage of renewable energy
technologies which in turn has an impact on energy security.
From the above, it is apparent that it will be ineluctable for African
countries to continue depending on fossil fuels despite increasingly
71 Ibid. (n 19).
72 Godfrey Boyle Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future (3rd edn, Oxford University
Press (2012).
73 Philipp Mueller ‘UK Energy Security; Myth and Reality’ The Global Warming Policy
Foundation (2014).
74 Ibid. (n 2).
89
meet demand thereby creating an energy dependence on the supplying
countries. Inevitably, the renewables market will become vulnerable to
the geopolitics of foreign supply (as in fossil fuels) and the danger of
disruptions.
71
Variability
A vast majority of renewable energy sources (i.e. wind, solar, hydro,
marine) are associated with seasonal, diurnal or weather changes and even
where their variability is predictable, the rate of change is not.
72 Feedstocks used in the production of biofuels are equally subject to seasonal
cycles. The variability of the individual renewable energy sources creates
uncertainty as to capability of meeting demand and as such is a constraint
to energy security.
Tied to variability is the fact that renewable energy sources are closely
related to climate conditions. It is thus expected that climate change
will have adverse implications on renewable energy sources. Changes in
temperature, wind patterns or cloudiness as a result of climate change
will further compound the variability of renewables.
73
Infrastructure reliability
The deployment of renewables almost always requires an upgrading
of the grid and investment in storage. This requires massive amounts
of metals and minerals. These metals and minerals are crucial in the
manufacture of equipment to generate, store and distribute renewable
energy.
74 They are however, depletable. Additionally, they are concentrated in a handful of countries. The supply of these minerals therefore
affects the production, distribution and storage of renewable energy
technologies which in turn has an impact on energy security.
From the above, it is apparent that it will be ineluctable for African
countries to continue depending on fossil fuels despite increasingly
71 Ibid. (n 19).
72 Godfrey Boyle Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future (3rd edn, Oxford University
Press (2012).
73 Philipp Mueller ‘UK Energy Security; Myth and Reality’ The Global Warming Policy
Foundation (2014).
74 Ibid. (n 2).