2026/06/09 by Ayobami Solomon Oyewo, Siavash Khalili Maybodi, Christian Breyer · 1 voice
Energy · Environmental Science · #Electrification #Energy and Environment Impacts #Energy policy #Energy transition #Feed-in tariff #Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems #Investment (military) #Perspective (graphical) #Renewable energy #Sustainability #Sustainability and Climate Change Governance #Sustainable development
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/2753-3751/ae7a73
published in Environmental Research Energy 3(2), 023001 (IOP Publishing)
openalex publication_date 2026/06/09 · openalex created_date 2026/06/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/28
Abstract Electrification strategies based on renewable energy (RE) are critical for achieving multiple sustainable development goals and meeting the Paris Agreement in Africa. Low-cost RE offers multiple benefits and enables rapid scale-up through decentralised and scalable solutions, particularly solar photovoltaics (PV). However, despite recent progress, about 600 million people in Africa, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, are still estimated to lack access to electricity. This perspective synthesises literature evidence to show the critical role of RE in delivering sustainable, secure, and reliable electricity. It provides nuanced insights into energy policy, economic factors, social inclusion, technology relevance, and planning tools, while identifying context-relevant solutions tailored to the continent. It further emphasises the evolving role of energy stakeholders, with active energy citizens increasingly transitioning from consumers to prosumers, yet this aspect remains underexplored in the literature. To inform policy and practice, we recommend inclusive, interdisciplinary approaches that engage African and international partners, implement context-specific business models, and make parallel investments in centralised and decentralised systems. Strategic investment in scalable, low-cost RE technologies, particularly solar PV, and in solar-to-X pathways can accelerate socially inclusive and sustainable electrification across Africa.