Navigating Africa’s Transition to a Cleaner Energy Future

A practical take on balancing the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s transition to renewables.

Post-COP28, a global commitment to move away from fossil fuels emerged, highlighting Africa's pivotal role in this transition. Though the continent is a continent rich in both renewable and non-renewable resources, many of its countries face the challenge of reconciling their heavy reliance on fossil fuels with the imperative to embrace cleaner energy alternatives.

In this insights piece, DLA Piper and Invest Africa delve into the unfolding dynamics of Africa’s transition away from fossil fuels, exploring the challenges and opportunities that shape the continent’s journey towards a clean energy future. With over half of Africa's oil and gas-producing nations heavily dependent on exports, the economic implications of this transition are profound. Moreover, despite possessing significant renewable energy potential, Africa receives a mere fraction of global clean energy investment, hindering efforts to achieve universal energy access.

“Despite constituting approximately 20% of the global population, the continent only receives 2% of the total global expenditure on clean energy initiatives”

Drawing from insights shared by industry participants at a recent DLA Piper event, we identify key themes crucial for transforming Africa’s energy landscape. From the imperative of financial support for Africa's transition to the necessity of de-risking renewables projects and fostering robust public-private partnerships, our editorial offers actionable insights for stakeholders navigating Africa's energy transition.

As the continent stands at a pivotal juncture, balancing the imperatives of energy access, finance, security, and climate change, the transition to cleaner energy systems presents both urgency and opportunity.