Working Paper 348

Overview of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Africa

 by

Stephen Karekezi, John Kimani and Ayago Wambile

Overview

This working paper provides an overview of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Africa. The first chapter presents a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Africa. In Chapters 2 and 3, the working paper explains why African countries should promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The paper further explains how renewable energy systems and energy efficiency technologies can assist Africa in addressing the energy challenges facing many countries in the region. The key challenges highlighted include energy supply insecurity arising from high oil prices; recurrent drought-related hydropower crises; inability to provide adequate access to modern services for the region’s poor; and, adverse local, regional and global environmental impacts of excessive reliance on conventional energy systems.

The final sections present definitions of key concepts and terminologies used, along with references and websites.

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