Not just an energy transition but for Africa, a “JUST” energy transition

This is a 2-part series on Africa’s JUST Energy Transition

Part 1: Why for Africa, it ought to be a JUST Energy Transition

Part 2: Unlocking Africa’s abundant natural resources for a JUST Energy Transition

Part 1: Why for Africa, it ought to be a JUST Energy Transition

Images sourced from: Jamie Senos/ Lighting Africa and World Bank report

Energy transition is typically being described as one of forging a low carbon pathway tending towards a zero-carbon imperative (net-zero) whilst fostering green growth. This Energy transition is to be achieved fundamentally through the application of Energy efficiency (using less energy for the same service level; can result from operational & maintenance regime changes, behavioural & attitudinal changes as well as from technological changes), Renewable energy sources (naturally replenishing and virtually inexhaustible energy (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, etc., and unlike the fossil fuels (non-renewable) that do not replenish within human timescales and Clean technologies (processes, products, or services that reduce the adverse negative environmental/ ecological impacts that lead to climate change whilst improving productivity and resource efficiency).

There is however a call for what is being called as a “JUST” energy transition; one that takes into consideration issues such as increasing energy access and energy security ?“by all available fuels necessary”. A “JUST” Energy Transition alludes to a consideration beyond technological & environmental aspects to also include social, political & economic implications of a transition and its impact on the status quo.

It examines what gives and what takes in the transition; assessing risks and opportunities whilst being human-centric. It really has to be a steady progression/ change process and not a rushed process. It must be defined by self (sovereign determination as it were). Given the current Geopolitics surrounding commodities and resources, one has to look at the energy transition through both an energy security lens as well as a climate crisis lens undoubtedly. The current biases in the energy investment landscape ought to be revisited so as the priorities set right.

Africa’s energy transition in fact faces what have been identified as its two most critical issues, one of Modernisation (exploitation of renewables and energy efficiency) and the other of Expansion (clean technology up-scaling) in the midst of a push for energy justice, energy security, energy sufficiency and efficiency.

However, there isn’t as much talk about Energy Efficiency & Conservation, as there is on mothballing Fossil-fueled plants and going clean & Green with Renewables and Clean-tech. Granted, Clean-tech comes in handy in the decarbonisation of those hard to decarbonise sectors (e.g. thermal storage technologies for heat decarbonisation, PtX for steel industry decarbonisation, etc.).

For Africa, we are still yet to fully exploit one of the 3 main energy transition modalities which is the application of Energy efficiency and conservation; Energy efficiency & conservation is indeed the first fuel before we even start to look at other alternative energy sources/ fuels for power generation. ?

Energy efficiency and conservation realises for us 'negawatts' of sufficient quantum to qualify as virtual power plants. A new build power plant costs several millions of US dollars for each MW. A virtual power plant constituted from the “freed up”/ 'unused' energy generates 'negawatts' at a fraction (typically a third) of the new build per MW generation. This freed up capacity can be served on others to reduce the energy poverty that is so prevalent in Africa.

As Africans, we are faced with the great challenge of increasing access to energy services by all, over a certain predefined timescale (2030, 2050…and as a matter-of-fact, NOW!). We are committed to providing energy access to previously energy-starved communities. We are also guaranteeing energy security to existing users of energy. ?Therefore, the argument for Africa really is that, it must be a “JUST” energy transition that takes into consideration how energy access is increased to reach the +600mil energy poor Africans and what energies to industrialise with and provide energy security.

In its “JUST” Energy transition, Africa ought to unlock all its potential in all abundantly available forms of energy resources that include Oil, Coal, Gas, Bioenergy, Geothermal, Wind, Solar, Hydro, Tidal, Nuclear, et cetera, because a “JUST” energy transition has to be mostly about the People who are energy poor, who depend on fossil-based energy for their livelihood both in terms of employment (working the coal fields) and energy source and in addressing economic empowerment and social equity borne of the Economic-Energy-SocioPolitical nexus.

The idea of penalising the heavy emitters of yesteryear whilst giving a free pass to emit to those that did not contribute nor benefit to industrialise & electrify from the low cost abundant “dirty fuels” of coal, oil & gas must be entertained. And by insisting on the big carbon emitters to reduce on their emissions as the least emitters such as Africa is allowed to proportionally increase, that is “JUST”.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chisakula Kaputu is a Carbon & Energy Consultant/ Resource Efficiency & ESG/Sustainability Practitioner with over 25 years of experience in Extractives, Energy, Environment & Sustainability having worked/ working in Industrial Mining, FMCG, Academia, Power Infrastructure/ESI, Electrical consultancy and energy & risk advisory & consultancy.

Chisakula has a Masters Degree in Engineering specialising in energy management. He also has qualifications in Project management, Financial management, Sustainability, Leadership, Diplomacy, Public Relations and Marketing among others. He is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Measurement & Verification Professional (CMVP) accredited with the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) as well as being a recognised UNIDO and EU energy expert and a Section 12I & L Tax incentive Expert review panelist for South Africa. Chisakula is Zambia’s first Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Measurement & Verification Professional (CMVP) and UNIDO-certified Energy management system expert to ISO50001.

Chisakula has a vast amount of knowledge and working experience in energy management (Energy Efficiency), energy supply (Renewable & Alternative Energy) and energy engineering and has advised governments, international financial institutions and private sector clients on energy and sustainability issues. He has conceptualised several energy implementation & delivery models, has penned and presented several conference papers and is a published author. Energy is his passion (energy access, energy efficiency, energy security & energy transition).

Chisakula is the Chief Energy Engineer (C.E.E) & DIRECTOR at Sustainable Energy and Environment (SEE) LTD; an energy management consultancy, environmental sustainability advisory, energy projects developer, EPCm and ESCO. Chisakula can be reached at email: [email protected] and mobile number: +260955780068