WHY INVESTING IN SOLAR PRODUCTION IS KEY TO BRIDGE GRID SUPPLY GAP IN AFRICA

Senior Policy Advisor, Solar Power Europe, Miguel Herrero Cangas, has urged policy makers to channel their investment decisions into solar projects for sustainable economic recovery.

He noted that the grid supply remains inadequate to meet domestic demand for electricity especially in Africa.

According to him, solar is going to be the key to achieving a resilient economic recovery as countries across the globe are trying to come out of the economic shocks caused by the pandemic.

Speaking during a webinar on How policymakers, the grid and big techs are key to net zero, he said “The key challenge in Africa particularly sub-Saharan Africa is how to increase access to electricity for a very large population that does not have access to reliable clean electricity. The cost effectiveness of solar comes in to provide at least some solutions, although there are very notable solar projects in Nigeria and also some business models related to solar projects.”

“The key complexity is the grid; there is need to develop grid that can meet the needs of the growing population with growing population needs. It is going to take a lot of efforts, but we are working actively to collaborate with industry associations in Nigeria and other parts of the country in Africa to unlock the potentials of solar,”

He went on to say that to decarbonise an economy in an active way, there is an urgent need for renewable energy to shield markets from energy price hikes, need for a decentralised renewable energy to make sure that everyone contributes and benefits from energy transition.

SOURCE: The Guardian