{"id":12042,"date":"2022-03-15T09:43:10","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T09:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/?p=12042"},"modified":"2022-03-15T09:43:10","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T09:43:10","slug":"opinion-africa-can-adopt-renewable-energy-on-a-massive-scale-and-save-billions-along-the-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/opinion-africa-can-adopt-renewable-energy-on-a-massive-scale-and-save-billions-along-the-way\/","title":{"rendered":"OPINION: Africa Can Adopt Renewable Energy on a Massive Scale and Save Billions Along the Way"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kenneth Engblom, <\/span>W\u00e4rtsil\u00e4<\/span>\u2019s VP Energy for Europe and Africa<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Africa\u2019s energy future at a crossroad<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to building the future of energy in Africa, the decisions facing the continent\u2019s leaders today are nothing less than of historical importance. More than anything else, energy systems are the very fabric of business and society. Countries across Africa want to make good on their objective of building huge amounts of new generation capacity to anticipate on vast increases in energy demand and set the continent on the path of growth and development it deserves.<\/p>\n

Africa knows\u00a0where<\/em>\u00a0it needs to go. The big question is\u00a0how<\/em>. And more specifically: what is the most cost-effective energy mix that can be built to deliver all the new electricity capacity that is needed? Wind, solar, gas turbines, coal, gas engines\u2026 numerous options are available, but there is only one sweet spot.<\/p>\n

For the past decade and more, world-class engineers and analysts at W\u00e4rtsil\u00e4 have tapped into their deep bench of experience in the African energy sector to answer these very questions, country by country. We have mobilized state-of-the-science, technology-neutral energy modelling techniques, and took all local technical constraints, all technologies, and natural resources into account. Multiple energy mix scenarios have been developed and compared. We ran the models rigorously and the numbers have spoken. They reveal cost differences of mind-boggling magnitude between the various energy strategies possible.<\/p>\n

Billions of dollars are at stake<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to the choice of energy technologies, keeping an open mind, free from preconceptions, is paramount. Technologies that can be right for Europe considering its existing infrastructure, population density, or natural resources, can be wrong for others. Each country, each region, must find its own optimal way to building its energy system. Many African countries have however one important point in common: maybe more than anywhere else, the models indicate that the best path to building the most cost-optimal energy system is to maximize the use of renewable energy.<\/p>\n

One fact must be established once and for all. The cost of renewable energy equipment has decreased very rapidly in recent years, and when this equipment runs on Africa\u2019s massive solar and wind resources, what you have is a cost per KW\/h produced that beats all other electricity technologies hands down. If you add to this the fact that most electricity grids on the continent are relatively underdeveloped, favouring renewable energy over traditional power generation like coal or gas turbine power plants becomes a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

Although relatively ambitious renewable energy targets have been set by governments across the continent, it does not always go far enough.\u00a0Contrary to what some industry and political leaders may believe, maximizing the amount of renewable energy that can be built in the system is by far the cheapest strategy available, while at the same time ensuring a stable, reliable network.<\/p>\n

In Africa, renewables must become the new baseload. And yes, renewables are intermittent. But combining them to flexible power generation capacities will guarantee the stability of the grid and save billions of dollars along the way.<\/p>\n

The intermittency of renewables: an issue we can cope with<\/strong><\/p>\n

It would be misguided to consider the intermittency of renewables as a showstopper. It is not, provided they are paired up with highly flexible forms of electricity generation like gas engine power plants.<\/p>\n

To maintain a balanced system, flexible back-up and peak power must be available to ramp up production at the same rate that wind or solar production fluctuates, but also to match the fluctuating energy demand within the day. The systems must be able to respond to huge daily variations in a matter of seconds or minutes.<\/p>\n

Gas engine power plants are the only source of backup generation that is designed to do just that. They will keep the system safe, while allowing the grid to accommodate huge amounts of cheap renewable energy. For Senegal alone, to take only one example, the studies reveal a $480 Million difference in total system cost over the next 15 years between a system incorporating lots of renewables combined to flexible gas engines, and a system built around inflexible thermal generation and minimal renewable capacity.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Renewables and flexible gas: the two pillars of a winning energy strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Renewables and flexible gas are the two pillars of a winning energy strategy for Africa. Similar studies conducted on other African countries indicate that this energy mix strategy will provide efficiencies worth billions of dollars continent-wide over the next few decades.<\/p>\n

Highly ambitious renewable energy objectives in Africa are not only achievable, but they are also the soundest and cheapest strategy for the successful electrification of the continent. Making the smart strategy decisions will lead to more resilient electricity systems and offer vastly superior whole-system efficiencies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Kenneth Engblom, W\u00e4rtsil\u00e4\u2019s VP Energy for Europe and Africa Africa\u2019s energy future at a crossroad When it comes to building the future of energy in Africa, the decisions facing … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":8374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7442,4746,11],"tags":[63,4871,742,955,2065,5275,2499],"class_list":["post-12042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-countries","category-renewables-2","category-top-news","tag-africa","tag-electrification","tag-energy","tag-gas","tag-power","tag-renewables","tag-technology","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Benban-solar-pack.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5JWkQ-38e","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11610,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/energy-transition-central-to-africas-economic-future-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":12042,"position":0},"title":"Energy Transition Central to Africa’s Economic Future – Report","author":"","date":"January 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"An integrated policy framework built around the energy transition could bring a wave of new sustainable energy investment to Africa, growing the region's economy by 6.4 per cent by 2050, results of an analysis published today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the African Development Bank\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Countries"","block_context":{"text":"Countries","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/countries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/EGYPT-WIND-FARM-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/EGYPT-WIND-FARM-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/EGYPT-WIND-FARM-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/EGYPT-WIND-FARM-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/EGYPT-WIND-FARM-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14733,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/the-future-of-africas-energy-sector-balancing-fossil-fuels-and-renewables-by-nj-ayuk\/","url_meta":{"origin":12042,"position":1},"title":"The Future of Africa’s Energy Sector: Balancing Fossil Fuels and Renewables","author":"","date":"February 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber There\u2019s a promising future for African renewables as the continent strives to balance its current reliance on fossil fuels. That\u2019s the prediction of the African Energy Chamber\u2019s\u00a02025 Outlook Report on the State of African Energy. As I have said before, Africa will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Countries"","block_context":{"text":"Countries","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/countries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Mainstream-Renewable-Power-in-South-Africa.webp?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Mainstream-Renewable-Power-in-South-Africa.webp?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Mainstream-Renewable-Power-in-South-Africa.webp?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9527,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/irena-and-african-development-bank-partner-to-scale-up-renewable-energy-investments-in-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":12042,"position":2},"title":"IRENA and African Development Bank partner to scale up renewable energy investments in Africa","author":"","date":"December 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the\u00a0African Development Bank\u00a0have agreed to jointly support investment in low carbon energy projects, a move expected to advance Africa\u2019s energy transition. The two entities signed a Declaration of Intent to coordinate on a range of activities, including co-organizing renewable energy investment forums as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Countries"","block_context":{"text":"Countries","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/countries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/wind-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C884&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/wind-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C884&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/wind-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C884&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/wind-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C884&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/wind-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C884&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10400,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/ge-releases-position-paper-on-accelerating-south-africas-energy-transition-with-gas-power-and-renewables\/","url_meta":{"origin":12042,"position":3},"title":"GE Releases Position Paper on Accelerating South Africa\u2019s Energy Transition with Gas Power and renewables","author":"","date":"June 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Whitepaper discusses South Africa\u2019s urgent need for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, to spur industrialization while addressing its climate change ambitions; Highlights how flexible gas power will play a critical role in South Africa\u2019s future energy mix; Underscores how gas power complements renewables with a clear path to decarbonization through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Countries"","block_context":{"text":"Countries","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/countries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12206,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/a-clean-future-for-africas-energy\/","url_meta":{"origin":12042,"position":4},"title":"A clean future for Africa\u2019s energy","author":"","date":"April 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Africa\u2019s rapid economic expansion creates a daunting energy challenge, combined with rising expectations of improved resilience and sustainability. Finding a sustainable way to meet growing energy needs is one of the core development challenges for the continent.\u00a0Africa is rich in renewable energy sources, including hydro, sun, wind and others, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Central Africa"","block_context":{"text":"Central Africa","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/countries\/central-africa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Solar-Energy-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Solar-Energy-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Solar-Energy-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Solar-Energy-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Solar-Energy-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8414,"url":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/supporting-east-africas-young-professionals-african-energy-chamber\/","url_meta":{"origin":12042,"position":5},"title":"Supporting East Africa\u2019s Young Professionals: African Energy Chamber","author":"","date":"June 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The voice of young professionals in the energy industry in East Africa will present an important and timely discussion through a webinar hosted by the African Energy Chamber. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a seismic shift in the oil and gas sector and has brought into the fore the \u201cgreat\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Countries"","block_context":{"text":"Countries","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/category\/countries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/oil-rig.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/oil-rig.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/oil-rig.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12042"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12043,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12042\/revisions\/12043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}