POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR SCALING UP CENTRALIZED SOLAR ENERGY IN AFRICA

INTRODUCTION:?

Solar energy is the energy produced by the sun’s radiation. It is considered to be the most powerful, abundant, clean, environmentally friendly and inexhaustible energy resource available to humans. The amount per hour of solar energy absorbed by the earth’s surface is enough to meet human energy needs for a year. Solar energy holds immense potential for Africa, offering a unique opportunity to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to a large share of the population. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Africa possesses 60% of the world's best solar resources, yet only 1% of solar generation capacity is currently utilized. This presents a significant opportunity for the continent to harness its solar potential and address the pressing need for improved economic opportunities and quality of life.

The transition to renewable energy in Africa has made impressive progress over the last decade, with many countries working to increase renewable energy capacity in recent years. As the world seeks sustainable solutions to energy generation and consumption, Africa stands at a pivotal crossroads. With its abundant solar resources and the urgent need for access to affordable and reliable electricity, the continent presents a compelling case for scaling up centralized solar energy.

ADVOCATING FOR CENTRALIZED SOLAR ENERGY

Centralized solar, refers to large-scale solar plant installations, usually in? remote locations. They are large solar power generation farms, producing substantial electricity, that is fed into the grid. One of the primary technologies used in centralized solar energy is Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area, converting the concentrated light into heat. This heat is utilized to power a heat engine, typically a steam turbine, which is connected to an electrical power generator. However, with the significant cost reductions achieved by solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, households and businesses can now generate much of their own power needs and even export any temporary surpluses to their neighbors. This shift has the potential to make the energy market more competitive and allow power to flow in both directions, fundamentally changing the traditional model of centralized power distribution.

Centralized solar energy in Africa is a growing sector with significant potential to address the continent's energy challenges, promote economic growth, and mitigate environmental impacts. As of 2023 according to the data released by Global Energy Monitor, Africa's operating capacity of large utility-scale solar power is 9.4 gigawatts, which is only 1.7% of the global deployment of solar capacity. In comparison, for instance, China—a third the size of Africa—has close to 400GW of solar capacity, and Japan, 100 times smaller than Africa, has close to 80GW capacity. The UK – a little smaller than Japan – has a 15GW capacity of solar, still more than the entire African continent. This indicates that while the continent has immense potential, it is still underutilized. One of the primary advantages of centralized solar energy is the economies of scale they offer. Large-scale solar installations can produce electricity at a lower cost per unit compared to smaller, distributed systems. By maximizing the use of available space and reducing the number of grid transmission links, centralized solar systems help decrease power loss and improve energy usage efficiency.

The scaling up of centralized solar energy in Africa involves leveraging the continent's abundant solar resources to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to a significant portion of the population, particularly in rural and remote areas where grid access remains limited or nonexistent. Africa enjoys an annual average solar irradiation of 2,119 kilowatt hours per square meter (kWh/m), with most countries across North, West, and Southern Africa receiving an average exceeding 2,100 kWh/m annually. This theoretical solar energy reserve coalesces into a staggering 60,000,000 terawatt-hours per year (TWh/year), equivalent to nearly 40% of the global total. Embracing solar energy can contribute to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing its environmental impact. It presents an opportunity to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity to a large share of the population, particularly in areas where improved economic opportunities and quality of life are most needed.

However, despite this immense potential, Africa only utilises one per cent of Its solar generation capacity, indicating significant untapped potential.

POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR SCALING UP CENTRALIZED SOLAR ENERGY IN AFRICA

As the continent embraces the immense potential of solar energy, a well-crafted policy framework will be instrumental in driving sustainable development, fostering economic growth, and empowering communities across Africa. To achieve the scaling up of centralized solar energy in Africa, several key initiatives and policy frameworks are essential. These key initiatives include:?

1. Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Incentivizing private sector participation in the solar energy sector is critical to unlocking capital for solar power initiatives. Successful PPP frameworks enable countries to channel investments into energy infrastructure, including renewable energy generation.

2. Feed-in-Tariffs and Regulatory Frameworks: Many African countries have introduced national policies, renewable energy targets, and feed-in-tariff mechanisms to promote and implement solar projects effectively. These initiatives aim to promote renewable energy through setting up projects using the feed-in-tariff mechanism.

3. Regional Policy and Regulatory Standards: Efforts by regional organizations, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to define and adopt National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPS) are crucial. However, the lack of follow-up during the implementation phase and the inadequacy of existing regulatory frameworks have caused delays in promoting solar power. Setting regional quality standards and establishing regional and national quality assurance frameworks are essential.

4. Financial Support and Investment: Mobilizing capital markets and local financial institutions, creating facilities dedicated to scaling up renewable energy investment, and offering technical assistance to national and regional institutions, regulators, and utilities are crucial for creating an enabling environment and a harmonized regulatory framework. The falling prices of solar power and technological progress provide opportunities for large-scale expansion of renewable electricity generation in Africa.

5. Policy Initiatives and Enactments: Policy initiatives, such as Climate Change Policies and Renewable Energy Policies, form the basis of the underlying framework for renewable energy in Africa. Recent enactments, such as the Climate Change Act, of 2021 In Uganda, govern the national response to climate change and aim to give effect to international agreements.?

CONCLUSION

Solar energy holds the key to addressing energy challenges, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and driving economic growth and sustainable development in Africa. By embracing solar energy, the continent can illuminate a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come. To achieve the scaling up of centralized solar energy in Africa, several key initiatives and policy frameworks are essential. These initiatives are crucial for promoting solar power development and deployment, addressing financial challenges, and creating an enabling environment for renewable energy investment in Africa.

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