Africa has 60% of the world's photovoltaic resources, just like the oil in the Middle East, which is the envy of all countries. However, it is unbelievable that there are 600 million people in Africa who live without electricity, accounting for about 48% of the total population of Africa. Africa's photovoltaic installed capacity only accounts for 1% of the world's total.
Africa currently only accounts for 1% of global PV installations. These data just show that the development of renewable energy, especially solar energy, in Africa has a very broad prospect.
According to statistics from the African Solar Energy Industry Association (AFSIA), in the past 2022, the installed capacity of solar energy in Africa has reached 949 megawatts, and the cumulative installed capacity has passed the 10GW mark. Of course, 10 GW is not much, but it is already a huge progress for African countries.
There are 600 million people in Africa living without electricity, accounting for about 48% of the total population in Africa. Under the influence of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and the global energy crisis, Africa's energy supply capacity is constantly weakening.
At the same time, Africa is the second most populous continent in the world and the fastest growing continent. By 2050, it will have more than a quarter of the world's population. It is foreseeable that Africa will face increasing pressure on energy development and utilization.
According to the latest report "Africa Energy Outlook 2022" released by the International Energy Agency in June this year, since 2021, the number of people without access to electricity in Africa has increased by 25 million, and the number of people without access to electricity in Africa has increased by about 4% compared to 2019. In view of the high international energy prices and the increased economic burden on African countries, the International Energy Agency believes that Africa's electricity consumption index will further decline when analyzing the situation in 2022.
But at the same time, Africa has 60% of the world's solar energy resources, as well as other abundant wind energy, geothermal energy, water energy and other renewable energy, making Africa the last piece of land in the world where renewable energy has not yet been developed on a large scale.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Africa could meet nearly a quarter of its energy needs by 2030 by using indigenous, clean, renewable energy sources. Helping Africa develop these green energies and benefiting the African people is one of the missions of Chinese companies entering Africa, and Chinese companies are proving that they fulfill their mission with practical actions.
On September 13, 2022, the groundbreaking ceremony of the second phase of the China-aided Nigerian capital Abuja solar traffic signal project was held in Abuja.
According to reports, the China-aided Abuja solar traffic signal project is divided into two phases. The first phase of the project built 74 solar traffic lights at intersections, which were in good operation after the handover in September 2015.
China and Nigeria signed the second-phase project cooperation agreement to build solar traffic lights at the remaining 98 intersections in the capital area of Nigeria, making all intersections in the capital area unattended.
In June 2022, the first photovoltaic power station in the Central African Republic, Sakai Photovoltaic Power Station, was connected to the grid for power generation. The power station was contracted by Energy China Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd., with an installed capacity of 15 megawatts. % of electricity demand, greatly promoting the local social and economic development.
The photovoltaic power station project has a short construction period, is green and environmentally friendly, and has a large installed capacity, which can immediately solve the problem of local electricity shortage. During the construction process, the project also provided employment opportunities for about 700 people, helping local workers master various skills.
According to the "2022 Global Status Report on Renewable Energy" released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), despite the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, sales of off-grid solar products in Africa will still reach 7.4 million units in 2021, becoming the world's largest market. Among them, East Africa has the highest sales volume, reaching 4 million units; Kenya is the country with the largest sales volume in the region, with sales of 1.7 million units; Ethiopia ranks second, with sales of 439,000 units. Sales in Central Africa and Southern Africa have grown significantly, such as sales in Zambia increased by 77% year-on-year, Rwanda increased by 30%, and Tanzania increased by 9%. West Africa sold 1 million units, which is relatively small. In the first half of 2022, Africa will import a total of 1.6GW of Chinese photovoltaic modules, a year-on-year increase of 41%
Solar installations will reach 949 MW in 2022, according to figures compiled by the African Solar Energy Industries Association (AFSIA). Angola was the largest installer country, commissioning two large-scale projects with a combined capacity of 284 MW, pushing South Africa and Egypt, the usual leaders, to second and third respectively.
AFSIA’s 2022 annual report, released this week, noted that every country on the continent plans to build some new solar in the short term, and that 29 of those countries are building at least 100 MW of new installations.