A new study examined 3,139 power plants across Africa to assess how the continent’s electricity supply is evolving and what challenges future planning must address. Researchers report that electricity access remains incomplete: only about 57% of people in Africa have access to electricity, with most access in sub-Saharan Africa. To meet the United Nations goal of ensuring everyone has access to affordable electricity by 2030, countries are expected to expand power generation rapidly.
The study finds that fossil fuels continue to play a major role in Africa’s electricity future, even as additional capacity is planned. It also emphasizes that energy planning cannot focus only on generating enough power. The research highlights the need to consider water scarcity, which can affect the feasibility and reliability of power plants, and carbon dioxide emissions, which relate to climate impacts. The findings underscore that meeting electricity demand by 2030 requires balancing infrastructure expansion with environmental constraints, including water availability and emission considerations.
