Search Results

The Inflation Reduction Act, which the US President signed into law in August, is aimed at Americans but will positively affect African countries looking to plough resources into green technologies and infrastructure. Steve Umidha, bird story agency A piece of legislation championed by US President Joe Biden could be a game-changer for clean energy supply chains – and, by association, African economies. Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act is a climate law aimed at cutting emissions by driving clean technology manufacturing. Although the Act, which Biden signed into law in August, is targeted at Americans, the knock-on effect for wind, solar, battery and other green technologies will be good news for economies across the African continent. Africa needs more than US$2 trillion of investment in reliable, sustainable, and affordable power infrastructure over the next two decades, according to the International Energy Agency’s 2019 Africa Energy Outlook. This will require more than just conventional private-sector investment agreements. New financing models, as well as philanthropic capital, will be crucial. Commercial banks will also play a critical role; a number of these institutions across Africa have already created specialised lending facilities to bolster private investment in climate-related infrastructure projects and sustainable businesses. With their moderately short project lead times, solar and wind energy represent vital planks in Africa’s efforts to reduce and eventually phase out fossil fuels. But the high associated costs of developing such technologies, coupled with supply chain constraints caused by the war in Ukraine and other factors, have hindered African countries’ attempts to set up renewable energy plants. The Inflation Reduction Act could help to resolve some of those bottlenecks. That, in turn, will pave the way for companies to invest in new technologies, equipment and infrastructure easily. Lawmakers behind the Inflation Reduction Act have pledged to create a ‘green vortex’ – a climate technology and investment action plan to reduce toxic greenhouse gas emissions significantly, many of which emanate from the United States. It will set up Investment Tax Credits and Production Tax Credits for clean energy generators, allowing producers to choose between those credits. Speaking at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Biden termed the Act as a “global climate game- changer” and recommitted his administration to meeting its climate change pledges: “We are going to help with the change for everyone beyond our borders and attempt to meet our mission by 2030.” US President Joe Biden at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. The event has been heralded as "Africa's COP" The Rockefeller Foundation was among the first institutions to back the Inflation Reduction Act. Joseph Curtin, the foundation’s managing director on power and climate, has cited its passage as “the biggest thing to happen in international climate diplomacy in decades”. bird story agency

A young climate activist is "greening" schools in Liberia by educating students about climate change and planting coconut trees. By Laymah Kollie, bird Story Agency When Eleazer Barclay, 22, started climate activism in 2018, he visited six schools in Grand Bassa County, Liberia and asked the students to come with coconut seeds. "My objective was to educate the students and teachers to champion environmental conservation by planting trees. To start off, I asked the participants to come along with a symbolic plant, a coconut seedling, and on that first day, we planted 150 coconut trees on six campuses," said Barclay. "The most important thing was that the young students saw themselves as problem solvers. They also learned that trees provide clean air, and food and are a habitat for wildlife besides combating the effects of climate change and global warming by acting as carbon sinks." And four years later, through his Youth Exploring Solutions (YES) organisation, the initiative has spread to five of Liberia's 15 counties with plans afoot to reach the 15 sub-divisions. In 2020, YES conducted a clean-up exercise in one of Monrovia's most polluted communities, Soulneywen, responsible for spewing enormous quantities of garbage into the sea. The action jolted the Monrovia City Corporation to start a regular area clean-up. The coconut tree planter launched a Facebook Live show dubbed; 'Environmental Hour' in July 2022 to increase his reach and educate more Liberians about tree planting. The show talks about major environmental issues ranging from local, national and global, and their effect on humanity. Barclay says one of his main challenges is that awareness of climate issues, especially among the rural communities in Liberia, is still low. For instance, a 2018 Afro-Barometer survey report indicated that almost half of Liberia's 5 million populace is unaware of climate change and its causes. "A slim majority (54 per cent) of Liberians say they have heard of climate change; almost half (46 per cent) have not. Awareness of climate change is particularly low among the uneducated, youth, women, and rural residents," said the report. For Barclay, this was an opportunity to preach the climate and conservation gospel to the youth and create future climate crusaders. Nelson B White, a student of the St. Peter Claver Catholic School and a participant in the symbolic planting in Bassa, referred to the process as a "developmental initiative". He said the coconuts planted in 2018 have not only greened the area but made the air around the school feel fresh and cleaner. "It is as if they are generating fresh oxygen, and I am glad I took part in planting them. And since then, I have been planting more. I don't think I am ever going to stop doing so for the rest of my life," he said. Coconut tree seedlings. White added, "I see the event as a development, it provides fresh air for human comfort and green space for the environment, which is a way of combating global warming. " Venson Cee, another student at St Peter Claver High, said that through Barclay's initiative, he has learned about conquering the GreenHouse Gas effect, storms and preserving biodiversity. He appreciates YES for the opportunity to build a network of environmentally conscious students across the country and hopes it can spread to the region and other parts of Africa. "I learned about conquering Greenhouse gas effects, storms and preserving biodiversity by planting trees. I want to applaud the organisers for the great opportunity provided to us to learn about our environment, climate change and ways to mitigate these problems," said Cee. The principal of the Grand Bassa High School System, Augustus Z Quoi, who is also implementing the project in his school, says the YES initiative has enabled his students to appreciate the importance of creating a greener atmosphere for everyone. "It is good because it helps in making the environment suitable for everyone. These coconut trees growing on the school compound helps protect the infrastructure from the storms, which are common in this region," he said. Barclays' work is also being appreciated by the community. Mama Johnny, Chairperson of Kortu Quarter in Bong County, praises him for his passion for saving the environment. She adds that coconut trees don't only eradicate soil erosion and other climate effects but are also a source of food and income. "It's good we plant coconut trees in our various homes, campuses and the community. I want to encourage other young people to join hands with our Coconut tree planter to fight climate change," she stressed. Barclay was recently awarded the 'Golden Image Award' with his organisation receiving the Best Environmental Institution of 2019. His initiative also recently earned him a five-day trip to attend the 2022 Africa Climate Week in Libreville, Gabon. The event, organised by UN Climate Change in collaboration with global partners UN Development Programme, UN Environment Programme and the World Bank Group, brought together more than 2,300 stakeholders. Africa Climate Week Week 2022, which was held from August, 29 to September 2, 2022, was a crucial forum ahead of the November COP 27 meeting as it brought together key stakeholders to explore climate challenges and opportunities and showcase ambitious solutions. "It was a knowledge-enhancing event, and I am glad to have represented my country at that great event," said Barclay. bird story agency

Kerosene lamps are being extinguished all over Africa as off-grid solar services using mobile payments - and the offer of home appliances - deliver affordable clean energy solutions. Seth Onyango, bird story agency A bulb, a charging port, a solar panel and a small fee paid via mobile phone are making all the difference as millions of African households dump kerosene and other dirty fuels to light their homes. Off-grid solar finance companies known with pay-as-you-go (or, PAYGo) solutions are even striking a chord with urban consumers looking to cut energy costs and upgrade their home appliances. The PAYGo business model enables low-income customers to finance not only home solar systems but also other related appliances, without collateral. Appliances offered by solar PAYgo providers include solar-powered TVs, radios, refrigerators, cookers, smartphones, tablets and ICT products, with loans and hospital bill financing recently also added to some PAYGo services as part of product diversification. Mobile money helps solar firms collect payments from customers in far-flung areas, making it easier for service providers to tap the bottom end of the population pyramid. A World Bank Off-Grid Solar (OGS) Market Trends Report 2022 released early in October notes that specialised payment collection companies, such as Glichery Limited in Kenya, facilitate the collection of these payments, allowing PAYGo firms to outsource this service and keep their businesses lean. In countries that suffer constant power fluctuations and outages like Nigeria, OGS has become a panacea for many micro, small and medium enterprises. "Real-time energy use tracking in Nigeria reveals that, at their current rate of energy consumption, over 50 per cent of MSMEs could be serviced by an off-grid solar system of 300Wp or below,” reads the World Bank report in part. Wp or watt-peak refers to "the maximum electrical power that can be supplied by a photovoltaic panel under standard temperature and sunlight conditions." Globally, there were 261 quality-verified solar lanterns and solar home systems (SHS) from 67 brands listed by VeraSol in 2021, up from 201 products from 51 brands in 2019. Many of these target users in Africa. Kerosene lamps are going out across Africa, thanks to solar [Graphic : Hope Mukami] With just eight years left to achieve the global 2030 goal of universal access to electricity, African governments are increasingly embracing OGS as a viable electricity access solution for rural populations. A McKinsey report, Solar, stresses that systems can serve homes that are too remote, that are too poor, or whose energy consumption is too low to make a grid connection economical. With that in mind, governments are incentivising PAYGo firms, even as more countries plan on-grid investments. "Since 2020, Senegal, Mali, Benin and Liberia joined other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and more around the globe, in providing VAT or duty exemptions for solar energy kits and components, while several countries have expanded border tax exemptions to productive use technologies” states the World Bank. "Mali, Senegal and Sudan included solar water pumps (SWPs) in their exemptions and Liberia exempted SWPs amongst a full range of other solar equipment and DC appliances. Similarly, Togo’s CIZO program provides border tax exemptions for SWPs from Off-Grid SolarTechnical Assistance & Capacity Building Rwanda eligible providers.” This level of support is a vote of confidence, according to the multilateral lender, illustrating that governments recognise the role that OGS technologies can play to bolster energy access and at the same time, boost climate-smart agriculture. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) figures show that off-grid renewable energy provides electricity access to more than 60 million people in Africa. Of these, more than half use small solar lights and a quarter uses solar home systems with the capacity to power lights, mobile phones and radios. After pandemic shocks, PAYGo firms’ balance sheets are stabilising as demand rebounds. World Bank figures show that East Africa, where Kenya is a market leader, is on a slow path to recovery after strong growth through 2019 saw a significant dip in 2020. "In West Africa, sales grew despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Strong growth in Nigeria is the driver behind this trend,” it said. "Similarly, although more nascent, key markets in Central Africa, such as Cameroon, have remained on a growth trajectory throughout the COVID-19 pandemic." The World Bank forecasts that solar mini-grids will provide high-quality uninterrupted electricity to nearly half a billion people in unpowered or underserved communities globally, by 2030. But to realise the full potential of solar mini-grids, the multinational lender said, governments and industry must work together to systemically identify mini-grid opportunities, continue to drive costs down, and overcome barriers to financing. bird story agency

An aggressive new push by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is tipped to help unlock critical financing to supercharge Africa's ambitious pivot from hydrocarbons to a clean energy future, as globally, extreme weather due to climate change bites. Seth Onyango and Conrad Onyango, bird story agency On Monday, AfDB and IFC will host a virtual forum in a push to drive private sector finance to help accelerate Africa's shift to low emission pathways. This includes drawing up investible project pipelines to woo climate-conscious investors for the continent's abundant renewables base. Monday's conference is part of a build-up to the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27) in Egypt later this year where Africa is expected to make a unified pitch for green financing. As green hydrogen, solar and wind become central in Africa's energy architecture, the AfDB and IFC are upbeat that they can jumpstart a new wave of funding into the green energy sector. AfDB, IFC ratchet up Africa's green energy urgency [Graphics: Hope Mukami] Their two-pronged approach that includes raiding both domestic and international wallets is part of a wider scheme to get as many hands on deck as possible to drive Africa's energy transition. Stakeholders hope to eliminate the critical obstacle to the deployment of renewable energy technologies in Africa – difficulty attracting sufficient and affordable finance. According to International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates, around 70 percent of clean energy investment will need to be carried out by private developers, consumers and financiers responding to market signals and policies set by governments. It is on that premise that the focus is shifting to the private sector to implement Africa's green energy blueprint, ahead of the COP27. "Achieving rapid clean energy transitions depends on enhancing access to low-cost finance for clean energy projects," the IEA said in its World Energy Outlook. "This means channelling retained earnings from the balance sheets of large energy companies, as well as opening funding from a range of companies and external sources – notably banks and the enormous pools of capital in financial markets." The push to direct financing to Africa's green programs comes as global investment in renewable energy remains below the targets needed to meet the Paris Agreement. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) report published last month shows rich economies fell US$17 billion short of their pledge to collectively deliver US$100 billion of climate finance a year by 2020. It shows rich nations mobilised US$83.3 billion of climate finance, a 4 per cent increase on the previous year but short of the US$100 billion of 2009 target. Developed countries are now only expected to meet that target in 2023, with previous research showing that the US is responsible for the vast majority of the shortfall. The bulk of the funding was in the form of loans rather than grants and went to Asian and middle-income countries. Asia received 42 per cent of the finance, roughly equal to its share of the global population, while Africa got 26 per cent and the Americas received 17 per cent. Reports suggest that combating climate requires a dramatic jump in global private investment in low-carbon, climate-resilient (LCR) infrastructure such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. Green banks will also need to step up to buttress private capital streaming in from Africa and overseas. While Africa received roughly a quarter of all climate‐related financial flows from developed countries between 2016 and 2019, based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2021 figures, more than half of those flows were in the form of debt instruments, while roughly 30 per cent were grants. There have been further high-profile pledges, including the US$8.5 billion promised South Africa at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) in 2021, to support its move from dirty fuels to renewables. The AfDB is hoping to build on its Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), a multi-donor Special Fund it launched in 2011, to further mobilise clean investments. The fund provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Its broader focus includes building green baseload, green mini-grids and enhancing energy efficiency. SEFA was established in 2011 in partnership with the government of Denmark and it has since received contributions from the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Nordic Development Fund and Germany. bird story agency

Ethiopia’s massive investment in clean energy has already begun to reap dividends for the country, with the planned export of 200 MW of hydropower to Kenya set for November, signalling an even bigger role for its renewables in Africa’s energy transition. Seth Onyango, bird story agency Ethiopia’s planned 40 billion US dollar renewable energy "master plan" has taken a step forward as regional markets open up to its electricity supplies. In the 2021/22 fiscal year, Ethiopia made about 100 million US dollars from power sales to Djibouti and Sudan, the Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) announced a fortnight ago, with a new agreement sealed in the past week. As new capacity comes online, EEP plans to sell more power to Kenya and build grid links to South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Yemen (across the Red Sea). Ethiopia’s big bet on renewables a bright spot for Africa [Graphics: Hope Mukami] In a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed between Nairobi and Addis Ababa last week, Kenya will get a maximum firm capacity of 200 MW for the first three years and thereafter a maximum firm capacity of 400 MW for the remainder of the 25-year deal. The agreed tariff is markedly competitive and will see Kenyans enjoy clean, reliable, and affordable power, an important ingredient in its push to ramp up manufacturing. EEP will be the second largest power supplier to Kenya Power (the state electricity distributor) after the local KenGen Hydros Eastern Cascade, with a contracted 600MW capacity. With its massive investments in renewable energy, Ethiopia is hoping to replicate its aviation industry’s success in the energy sector. However, not everything is flowing smoothly. GERD, the flagship project in Ethiopia's 40 billion US dollar clean energy master plan, is mired in a trilateral feud between Ethiopia and the downstream states of Egypt and Sudan which are concerned that the mega dam will slash critical water supplies from the Nile River. Ethiopia announced in mid-June that it had completed 88 per cent of the work on the dam, with commissioning set for the end of 2023. But Ethiopia also has other, less controversial energy projects that could transform it into a major energy hub once completed. Its current 71 renewable power projects include 16 hydro-power, 24 wind, 17 steam, and 14 solar projects, making the model arguably one of the world’s biggest policy shifts towards clean energy and potentially building Ethiopia into a leader in clean energy in Africa. At the same time, Ethiopia will bolster its electricity generating capacity from the current 4,200 MW to around 35,000 MW (closer to the continent's top power producer, South Africa's current 58,095 installed capacity) by 2037. Ethiopia already consumes less power at certain times than it produces, creating a surplus for export to its neighbours. Ethiopia’s big bet on renewables a bright spot for Africa [Graphics: Hope Mukami] Its energy roadmap shows that clean energy could be a safe bet for Africa, which boasts an immense renewable energy resource base. Analysis by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) shows an integrated policy framework built around the energy transition could bring a wave of new sustainable energy investment to Africa, growing the continent’s economy by 6.4 per cent per annum, by 2050. “Africa’s governments and people are too often asked to rely on unsustainable fossil fuels to power their development when renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions offer economically attractive and socially beneficial alternatives,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA director-general. “The transition offers a unique opportunity for Africa to meet its development imperatives. Through tailored policy packages, African countries can harness their strengths and resources to overcome long-established structural dependencies.” But Africa will need more investments in renewables. According to Renewable Energy World, of the US$2.8 trillion invested in renewables globally between 2000 and 2020, only 2 per cent went to Africa, despite the continent’s renewable energy potential and its need to bring modern energy to billions of citizens. bird story agency

Britain, US, France, Germany and the European Union's 8.5 billion US dollars pledged to help South Africa pivot from hydrocarbons shows how the West can incentivise African states to pursue a just green energy future. Seth Onyango, bird story agency At the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow last year, climate experts demonstrated how Africa can contribute to global emission reduction owing to its massive green energy potential. A chorus of how the continent could benefit from the dynamics of the global energy transition reverberated throughout the 12-day conference. But unlike the previous forums where rich nations only paid lip service to Africa's bid to decarbonise, the aforementioned states pledged financial incentives to the vision, starting with South Africa which is still dependent on coal. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the meeting in Glasgow that the multi-billion dollar initiative would help the world reach its climate targets. According to Johnson, the move was part of a push to "choke off international finance for coal". The 8.5 billion US dollars pledged is expected to be invested over the next five years to support South Africa's decarbonization efforts. According to a new report from the World Economic Forum, held in Davos last month, SA's coal-dominated economy will require at least 250 billion US dollars over the next three decades to close down its coal-fired power plants. By offering South Africa financial incentives to stop burning coal, the West is seen as killing two birds with one stone –– helping Africa abandon dirty fuels while ensuring it remains energy secure. It also shows the West is finally listening to energy stakeholders in Africa who have reasoned that the continent can't be forced to dump fossils without a stable alternative. South Africa's huge energy requirements and ageing generating coal fleet offer a great opportunity to showcase how this can be done, according many players, like Mojabeng Manthata, Acting Head, Energy, Environment and ICT, at the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA). The country's coal fired power stations are on average over 50 years old. Can South Africa provide a template for a just energy transition in Africa? [Graphics: Hope Mukami] “We have both the challenges and the opportunities and can serve as an example to the rest of the world,” Manthata said of the challenges of transitioning to green energy, at the #EnlitAfrica2022 conference in Cape Town, according to Energy News Africa. “We now have the opportunity to replace assets for the future,” she said. Global supply chain disruptions due to the war in Ukraine that have pushed up fuel prices and triggered shortages in Africa have shown that while many countries are still vulnerable to energy disruptions, those in Africa are often more disproportionately affected. African countries will be watching closely to see whether promises from the UK, US, France, Germany and the EU to help South Africa dump coal, were not just talking points. Efforts to decarbonise Africa come as countries in that continent continue to discover vast oil and gas deposits, the latest being Namibia. According to S&P Global Platts, nearly 40 per cent of global new gas discoveries in the last decade were in Africa, mainly in Senegal, Mauritania, Mozambique and Tanzania, with 17 countries already producing gas with seven net exporters and seven net importers, according to the African Energy Commission. It is on that premise that advocates of fossils have called for a just energy transition in Africa, given it only contributes less than 4 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. US Treasury climate counsellor John Morton flagged any public steps by South Africa to integrate more coal into its future energy mix as inconsistent with the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P) signed at COP26, according to South African publication, Engineering News. “While South Africa has made great progress in carrying out necessary reforms, we must be cognizant of new and avoidable challenges to South Africa's clean-energy future," he said during the Enlit Africa conference. “Any new coal generation capacity would be inconsistent with South Africa's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and would be inconsistent with the spirit and intentions of our shared partnership, which aims to expedite South Africa's transition away from coal and toward a cleaner and greener energy future,” Morton said. But with a pressing need for new energy sources and with ever-increasing stocks of gas, oil and coal, thanks to new discoveries, African countries are unlikely to sit back and wait for very long. South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan of 2019 (IRP2019) still allocates 1 500 MW of new coal to be introduced to its fleet before 2030. The head of the country's huge, state-owned, electricity supplier, Eskom, has said that even if coal is removed, the country will still need stable generation and has suggested that increasingly available regional supplies of gas be used instead. And from across Africa, the chorus for the continent to be offered special dispensation and continue to pump oil, burn coal and develop gas, has been growing, with many questioning the need for renewables, since African countries already "have" large reserves of available carbon based fuels. However, the availability of financing for major investments in clean energy like wind, solar and green hydrogen, could still be the game-changer. Most gas and oil reserves are fairly recent discoveries, meaning they all require significant investment infrastructure. While that is usually provided by oil and gas majors, the actual power generation facilities are not. And with China having pulled out of financing new coal stations outside of China, the financing opportunities - as well as high costs and complexities - could push countries to look more closely at renewables. While the "just energy" narrative appears to be growing, according to S.A-based Centurion Law Group, a just energy transition in Africa is one that ensures there are energy banks under JET-P that mobilise finances into the sector. "In order for Africa to achieve its goal of industrializing the continent, it is critical that it has access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable modern energy services as well as adequate financing," it said in its analysis in April. Reports from the African Development Bank (AfDB) show that bank financing in Kenya, Morocco, and the Democratic Republic of Congo has supported geothermal, solar and hydropower projects that are clean, renewable, and which bring electricity to undeserved households and small business markets. OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo and his counterpart at the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) Omar Farouk Ibrahim have insisted that only a "dual carriageway" will propel Africa’s energy agenda –– where fossils and renewables are ingredients in the continent’s energy cocktail. At a meeting in Brazzaville, Congo last year, the two industry captains pushed for an adaptive and market-driven approach to the energy transition, where hydrocarbons are not excluded or eradicated. “We will not allow billions of barrels of oil to go to waste and we will not be bamboozled into projects that we don’t need – ones which will not address energy poverty. We need to sit down and have an honest conversation about the energy transition,” Ibrahim said. Those sentiments were echoed by Barkindo. “We in OPEC also categorically reject the narrative that the energy transition is from hydrocarbons to renewables because this narrative is completely misrepresenting science,” Barkindo reiterated. “We believe that all sources of energy are required today and in the future to meet the challenges of climate change and future energy demand. According to our World Oil Outlook at OPEC, energy demand will grow by a minimum of 25 per cent between now and 2045. Therefore, we have to promote all energy resources in an efficient and sustainable manner. Our industry, therefore, is part of the solution to climate change.” But the EU appears cognizant of that. Early this year, Brussels announced plans to label natural gas and nuclear projects as ‘green’ investments. “Taking account of scientific advice and current technological progress, as well as varying transition challenges across the Member States, the Commission considers there is a role for natural gas and nuclear as a means to facilitate the transition towards a predominantly renewable-based future,” the European Commission said in a press statement released on January 1. According to the Commission, gas and nuclear projects will be considered green if they produce emissions below 270g of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Vijaya Ramachandran, director for energy and development at the Breakthrough Institute in Berkeley, California told bird that the Commission's decision was a step in the right direction but should be followed through with action. "If the EU acts in a fair manner, it will afford Africa a just energy transition by enabling investments in natural gas just as it does for its member countries," she said. "However, it may decide to follow one set of policies at home (classifying natural gas as green) while still opposing the financing of natural gas by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. If this is the case, these actions can be termed immoral and unjust; a form of green colonialism." Balancing a "just transition" that takes into account the needs of future generations (and their right to a stable climate as well as stable and abundant power supplies) will take nuance, good communication, political will and clear heads. With its abundance of sunlight, wind and coal, South Africa could well become the test case for how this works elsewhere, now and in the future. bird story agency

As operators transition telecom towers from diesel to clean energy, small green energy innovators are emerging as the biggest beneficiaries - some already looking at million-dollar contracts. **By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency** Small energy firms are staring at a multi-million dollar opportunity as telecom operators in Africa ramp up the switch from diesel power to clean energy for powering offices and transmission towers. Across the continent, telecom operators are at different stages - including the planning, testing and onboarding of local-based startups offering battery storage and solar home system services. Small renewable energy companies step up as telcos go green [Graphics: Hope Mukami] British telecoms group Vodafone is the latest to tap into these clean energy firms after enlisting Engie Energy Access and Bboxx - active in solar-powered mini-grids and solar home systems - through its Renewable Power challenge. The operator is leveraging the initiative to test the viability of using clean energy at its African network sites, it says. “Vodafone Group is working on plans with four organisations to carry out renewable power generation proof-of-concept trials across mobile access sites,” the company said in a statement. Vodafone operates in eight African countries - Ghana, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt and Angola. In its 2022 climate report launched in September, African Mobile operator MTN said it is looking for partners with innovative, low-carbon and renewable energy solutions like on-site hydrogen generation, solar, wind, fuel cell and hybrid. The operator has installed 30 off-grid renewable systems at its towers in rural South Africa. In June, the operator partnered with Cameroon’s Rural Electrification Agency (AER) to power its network infrastructure with solar energy. According to the report, MTN seeks to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 per cent by 2030 following the launch of its ‘Project Zero’ strategies in South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, and Ghana in 2021. In August, Nigerian mobile phone operator Hotspot Network partnered with a solar-microgrid energy provider, Husk Power, to convert 100 diesel-powered telecoms towers to solar power by June 2023. “In Nigeria, 25,000 telecom towers and their base transceiver stations (BTS) use 1.25 million litres of diesel per day. If converted to solar, our project will avoid at least 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year,” the two partners said in a joint statement. Already, The two companies have converted nearly 20 of Hotspot’s mobile towers to solar in the West African country. Africa’s largest telecom tower operator, IHS Towers, has announced plans to invest US$214 million between 2022 and 2024 to green its highly diesel-dependent telecom sites in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia. Through its ‘Project Green’ and a zero-emission roadmap launched in October 2022, it projects a 50 per cent reduction in its towers’ per kilowatt hour emission by 2030. “Our Carbon Reduction Roadmap is the next step in our journey to reduce our carbon footprint by setting tangible emissions targets,” said IHS Towers Chief Executive Officer Sam Darwish. In October, Energy Service Company, AktivCo and a subsidiary of French Telecom infrastructure firm, Camusat announced it had received 9 million euros to extend clean energy installation to telecom network operators in Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. In 2021, AktivCo raised 60 million euros to help it expand renewable energy from the current 3,000 sites under its portfolio to 7,000 locations in the next three years. GSMA, in its 2022 Mobile Net Zero Report, revealed that the number of operators who had committed to rapidly reducing their emissions over the next decade had risen to 49 from 31 operators in 2020. They include operators like MTN, Vodacom Group and Orange. **bird, Africa Story Agency.**

Many young African activists have overcome funding and accreditation challenges and are in Egypt to table their climate justice agendas before world leaders **Kate Okorie, bird story agency** The UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27) has been dubbed 'Africa's COP' – a chance for more African voices to be heard above the din of debate and discussion around the global climate crisis. African activists have struggled to attend previous conferences because of funding and accreditation hiccups; COVID vaccination requirements threw another spanner in the works. This kept the continent's activists from effectively participating in the decision-making process. Last year's COP 26, in Glasgow, Scotland, ended without major emitters making firm commitments on climate financing for less wealthy nations already in the teeth of the climate crisis. Vanessa Nakate at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency With the increased severity of environmental disasters wreaking havoc this year in Africa, determined young African activists are in Egypt to table their agenda and make their voices heard where it matters most. **'We don't give up'** Ugandan activist Nixon Bahandagira's excitement about the "African COP" soured when he struggled to get funding. But he was not deterred: he set up a GoFundMe to raise the money he'd need to get to Egypt when the campaign fell short. His motivation to keep pushing comes from empathy: "Since I was a victim, I do not want others to suffer like I did." Bahandagira's family lost their home to floods when he was nine. Since he began advocating for the environment, he has raised almost US$20,000 to plant one million trees in Uganda. He's already 350,00 trees in and is determined to keep planting. His advocacy for a better environment has come at a cost: he has faced threats and abuse and was arrested for his campaign against constructing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. The project, involving communities in Uganda and Tanzania, is backed by some of the world's biggest polluters. Bahandagira won't back down: "We don't see challenges; we don't give up. His mission in Egypt? "We want the leaders to show us the money and redeem the $100 billion climate financing pledge to developing nations in Africa and other parts of the world." **Make clean air a priority** Oluwatobiloba Ajayi made the seven-hour trip from Nigeria to Sharm el-Sheikh to advocate for clean air and healthier cities. "We want the government and party delegates to understand the impact of air pollution on health and the climate." Working with a long-time partner of the UN, she had no trouble getting accredited to attend the conference. The only challenge remaining was a familiar one — funding. So, she took to social media to scout for funding opportunities available for climate advocates. During her search, she stumbled on UrbanBetter Cityzen's open call for applications for its Cityzens4Clean Air Campaign. Besides sponsoring her, the campaign connected her to work with a team of young people in collecting data on air quality across Lagos, Accra, and Cape Town. COP 27 has been a space in which she can share the research findings with others. In addition to adequate climate financing for vulnerable nations, she hopes leaders will also pay more attention to air pollution. **Pay up for loss and damage** Nigerian activist Samuel Okorie's experience with environmental disasters led him to work within the climate space. He is a youth representative at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, YOUNGO. "My goal (while in Egypt) is to amplify youth voices and push for climate finance for countries in the global south." His attendance at this year's conference was in doubt when he struggled to secure a party badge to complete his registration. "I wrote to organisations that turned me down," he said. Happily, his work with the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) paved the way for the Nigerian government to offer him a "party overflow badge". Since arriving in Egypt, Okorie has followed through on his agenda, contributing to conversations around climate finance. On the conference's youth day, he co-led a peaceful demonstration demanding Loss and Damage financing for nations that have suffered from the impact of extreme weather events. bird story agency

They're young, fierce, and not afraid to tackle their governments, global leaders and corporate polluters head-on. Kate Okorie, bird story agency The hot afternoon sun in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, is no deterrent to the activists protesting against fossil fuels. A new chant follows each speech; "Stop oil!" they cry, or "Keep it in the ground!" – a demand for countries to stop any new oil projects. They may come from different parts of the continent, but it's clear that young African activists are united in demanding climate justice. Gabriel Klaasen is from South Africa. This year, severe floods triggered by heavy rainfall displaced more than 40 000 people in his country. He is firm: "With the climate crisis wiping away entire communities we can no longer justify using fossil fuels." Extreme weather events have also ravaged other parts of Africa, from wildfires in the north to drought in the east and floods in the west. Fossil fuel exploration releases tons of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; these trap excess heat and cause global warming, which drives the disasters unfolding across the continent and elsewhere in the world. Amid these recurring disasters, leaders in developed countries have continued to finance new oil projects. In 2021, they invested almost $700 billion in fossil fuel projects – a 17% increase from the previous year. Yet they have been remiss in meeting their commitments to supporting climate action in developing countries. In 2009, developed countries agreed to mobilise $100 billion each year to help poorer countries tackle the impact of climate change. They have consistently failed to reach this target every year. Young activists are up against giant corporations, their governments and enormous amounts of money. Keep oil in the ground where it belongs: young activists protest against new fossil fuel rush French-owned TotalEnergies is among a handful of European-based shareholders behind the $5 billion Ugandan-Tanzanian East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline, which will generate 34 million metric tons of greenhouse gas yearly when it is fully operational. Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni once stood in solidarity with climate activists. But he's made a U-turn, insisting that the EACOP will benefit the country's economy and reduce levels of energy poverty. Ugandan environmental activist Vanessa Nakate said: "Indeed, energy poverty is still hurting millions of people in Africa and across the global south, but the promise by big oil and gas companies to lift Africans out of energy poverty is a lie. It's always been a lie." Vanessa Nakate at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. Photo : Seth Onyango, bird story agency Available data shows that most oil-producing countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Libya and Angola, export more than 90% of their oil to countries across Asia and Europe. "The oil and gas that fossil fuel companies want to develop in Africa will not be for Africans," Nakate said. Even though some oil projects like the EACOP are still ongoing, the uproar from activists has gotten some attention. An increasing number of developed countries — key investors in Africa's oil sector — are gradually pulling funds from fossil fuel projects and re-directing them to renewable energy projects. Within the last decade, investment in Africa's renewable energy sector grew from $0.5 billion to $5 billion, with solar and wind projects leading the way. Africa has a rich store of renewable energy resources which can generate enough energy to serve its future demand. As the world moves away from fossil fuels, Tanzanian activist Rehema Peter believes it is time for African leaders to face reality and push for investments towards the continent's abundant renewable energy sources, which are both climate-friendly and cost-competitive. One of her Ugandan counterparts, Edwin Namakanga, concurred: "Transitioning to renewable energy will create a sustainable future for us." bird story agency

Green energy start-ups targeting low-income earning communities in the continent are competing with global outfits; some have attracted international recognition. Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Two start-ups operating in Kenya were unveiled as part of the 15 finalists of the 2022 Earthshot Prize, an award designed to find and grow solutions that seek to solve environmental challenges. Kenyan-based start-up Mukuru Clean Stoves and Kenyan-Swedish e-mobility company, Roam, were unveiled by Prince William and Earthshot Prize council as two of the three finalists in the Earthshot Prize to Clean Our Air category. The competition winners will be announced on 4th December in Boston. However, all finalists will have access to “tailored support and resources from The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members, an unprecedented network of private sector businesses around the world committed to helping scale innovative climate and environmental solutions and multiplying their impact,” a statement from Earthshot read. Alongside 13 other start-ups from across the world, the two, the only ones from Africa, will be in the race for a 1 million Sterling Pound final award to be offered to five of the fifteen finalists selected by the Earthshot Prize Council. Prince William, in a statement, noted that the finalists are to be celebrated because “they are directing their time, energy, and talent towards bold solutions with the power to not only solve our planet’s greatest environmental challenges, but to create healthier, more prosperous, and more sustainable communities for generations to come.” Mukuru Clean Stoves designs, produce and distributes improved, reliable and affordable cook stoves for low-income households sourcing its materials from waste. Clean cooking and e-mobility soar in Africa as Kenyan start-ups lead Since 2017, Mukuru Clean Stoves has sold over 7000 clean stoves reaching out to about 2000 learning institutions and vulnerable communities in “Mukuru”, the third-largest slum in Kenya. Roam, a Swedish-Kenyan e-mobility company drives the transition to sustainability in the transport sector by developing, designing and deploying electric vehicles in African cities. According to Albin Wilson, Chief Strategy & Product Officer at Roam, Roam is “addressing the source of the climate change challenge - carbon emissions - and offering electric mobility a foot to stand on.” Roam has been on the frontline in pioneering e-mobility in the continent with its first-ever electric, public mass transit bus announced in October. It is presently in operation in Nairobi. Mukuru and Roam, however, mirror hundreds of other private sector start-ups and collaborative projects and programmes in different African countries that seek to facilitate the realisation of clean air in the cooking and transport sector. McKinsey, in a 2021 report, ‘Green Africa: A growth and resilience agenda for the continent,’ outlined that “15% of African emissions from cooking, waste, and transportation can be abated while also significantly reducing air and water pollution, noise and pollution.” The different projects and programmes in clean cooking and the transport sub-sectors seek to actualise the projections in the report. The Clean Cooking Alliance, through the Venture Catalyst Program, “aims to provide a broad range of specialised support to selected companies, solidifying their commercial viability, enhancing their investment-readiness, and facilitating access to growth capital.” The program has been vital in 11 African countries in enhancing the capacity for ventures dealing in clean cooking through technical, financial and research-based support to reach more people and offer them clean cooking alternatives to the inherent traditional cooking style. Clean cooking ventures in Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda, DRC, Nigeria and Ghana are some of the direct beneficiaries of the program. Also, the recently launched Tanzania Clean Cooking Project, a 3-year project co-partnered by the Tanzanian government and the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, seeks to catalyse the adoption of clean cooking solutions in rural and among marginalised communities besides attracting the private sector into actively participating in the development of clean cooking solutions is also projected to up-scale clean cooking in the country. In the project, US$3.75 million will be availed to facilitate matching grant financing and to offer technical assistance to private sector enterprises involved in clean cooking projects. About 60000 households will benefit from the program by directly awarding clean cooking stoves. Tanzania’s National Determined Contributions submissions from 2021 show that it seeks to slash emissions by 30 and 35 per cent by 2030, making the program a critical step towards actualising these targets. Further, Tanzania plans to reinforce its commitment to cutting emissions by establishing a Clean Cooking Energy Fund in the 2023/24 financial year to strengthen and boost capacity for the existing clean cooking programs. In the e-mobility industry, private start-ups continue to increase investment in e-mobility in the continent. Most notably, the recent entry of Indian company M-Auto into the Togo and Benin markets has significantly increased the uptake of e-bikes and e-vehicles in West Africa. In Togo, the uptake has been further facilitated by comprehensive legislation after the government of Togo in March lifted taxes on e-vehicles imported into the country. In the two markets, M-Auto revealed it had sold 500 e-bikes in the first quarter of roll-out, with an additional 3 000 bikes ready for market, making it the largest e-vehicle company in the continent. bird story agency

The International Renewable Energy Agency lists Eswatini, Ghana and Mauritius as the only African countries in the Paris Agreement that have committed to having a specified percentage of renewables in their overall energy mix by 2030. Bonface Orucho, bird story agency. The report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was released at a side event during the ongoing COP 27. Having commitments that reflect a specific percentage of renewables in the overall energy mix in a country is vital because it "provides more clarity on the ambition with regard to climate goals, as they take account of phasing out or choosing to opt-out of fossil-based power." The commitments are particularly significant for Africa, estimated to have "733 million people without access to electricity and some 2.4 billion people relying on traditional biomass for cooking." "Aligning renewable energy targets in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national energy plans would increase the effectiveness and credibility of both, and reinforce clear signals to investors, developers and other players across the supply chain, thus enabling further development of the renewable energy sector," the report noted. Five years after Eswatini submitted its first NDCs, it revised these targets and submitted a revised copy in October 2021, targeting renewables as core areas of transition. The southern Africa Kingdom plans to double its share of renewables in its energy mix by 2030 relative to 2010 levels as the baseline. According to the updated NDC, Eswatini seeks a "Greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 5% by 2030 compared to the baseline scenario and an economy-wide emission reduction. This can increase to 14% with external financing translating to 1.04 million tonnes fewer GHG emissions in 2030 compared to a baseline scenario." Eswatini's National Adaptation Plans, National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plans are all developed consistent with the country's NDC. Walking the talk- Eswatini, Ghana, and Mauritius lead in renewables commitments[Graphics: Hope Mukami] Ghana also submitted its updated NDC in November 2021, revealing its plan to upscale renewable energy penetration to 10% of the energy total in the country by 2030. It also seeks to increase solar lantern replacement in two million rural non-electrified households. According to the Integrated Power System Master Plan (IPSMP), the nation will add 520 MW of solar, 325 MW of wind, and 60 MW of hydroelectric capacity between 2022 and 2030. Like Eswatini, Ghana has national action plans and strategies consistent with the NDC, including the Shared Growth Development Agenda II, the National Climate Change Policy and Low-Carbon Development Strategy. President Akufo-Addo, while offering Ghana's national statement at the COP 27 conference, said, "Ghana is ready to launch projects which will tackle climate change at domestic and global levels." He also announced the country's launch of the Energy Transition Framework. With an installed capacity of 83GW, the Energy Transition Framework intends to meet the anticipated demand of 380,000 GWh of electricity. Twenty-one gigawatts of renewable energy will be a part of Ghana's diverse energy mix, allowing Ghana to commercialise surplus renewable energy. In Mauritius, the government released a Renewable Energy Roadmap 2030 for the Electricity Sector, charting the way to achieve 40% of renewables in the electricity mix by 2030. This is an ambitious plan for Mauritius, considering that by 2018, 79.3% of energy was generated from non-renewable sources, principally petroleum products and coal and 20.7% from renewable sources, mainly bagasse, hydro, wind, landfill gas and solar. Overall, the IRENA report acknowledges Africa's centrality in attaining 2030 renewable energy targets, noting that "sub-Saharan Africa accounts for just 2.6% of global targets for 2030, aiming for a capacity of 140 GW by 2030 (up from around 43 GW in 2021)." bird story agency

The programme will be first rolled out at 15 universities on the continent with the expectation that the courses will equip undergraduates to champion climate action. Steve Umidha, bird story agency An educational programme set to launch in 2023 will give university students across the African continent a chance to learn more about climate change and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so they can "become ambassadors for the change process". GAIA Education, an international NGO, is readying the concept for launch early in 2023 through a pilot programme involving 15 of Africa's leading universities. It has roped in top academics from the continent through a partnership with the Association of African Universities, headquartered in Ghana, the SDG Centre for Africa based in Rwanda and the All-African Students' Union. Tim Clarke, GAIA Education Director, explained: "We are trying to get an African programme so that every African student can have a free online education programme on climate change and SDGs, so in a way, these students can become ambassadors for the change process." Short courses will be offered digitally. They will focus on subjects like renewable energy, water management, and other topics related to climate change. COP 27: Pilot programme to bring climate change courses to African universities [Image by ASphotofamily] Clark said the aim was to integrate scientific concepts with the most current data available on climatic systems so students could see how the world's climate is shifting. About 100 undergraduate students from the pilot universities will participate in the first phase. The UN has called for climate education to become compulsory in universities and tertiary institutions so that graduates can cope with the changing physical environment. It also wants climate change-related subjects to be introduced into school curricula. Several African countries, including Kenya and Zimbabwe, have already stepped up. In August, Kenya launched a climate change curriculum in partnership with governments from counties hardest hit by the region's drought. The County Climate Change Fund Curriculum was developed by the Kenya Meteorological Department, the Climate Change Directorate, the National Treasury, the Council of Governors, the National Drought Management Authority and civil society organisations. It is designed to offer knowledge to climate change practitioners to understand devolved climate finance by pushing for community-led adaptation measures. In Zimbabwe, experts from the country's ministry of higher and tertiary education, innovation, science and technology development have tabled a proposal that will see climate change offered as a subject and horizontally introduced in all subjects at teacher training in universities and colleges. This is in collaboration with the UN's Climate Change Learning Partnership. bird story agency