Renewable Energy in Africa

As the need for safe and clean energy sources increases, the trend for generating renewable energy sources is also continuing to emerge. Renewable energy sources are nature-based, which means that it is sourced from natural processes, such as rains, waves, sunlight, wind, and geothermal heat. According to the International Energy Agency, renewable energy accounts for 16% of the world's total energy consumption. Renewable energy is mainly used in developing countries, mainly in rural areas where access to commercial energy is limited.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) — USA, the trend for renewable energy is rising not only due to its cost-effectiveness, but also because it does not pose alarming environmental threats. In their website, the UCS-USA reported that the use of renewable energy is tied up with various health and environmental benefits. Firstly, use of renewable energy, unlike commercial energy, does not generate carbon emissions which can cause global warming. Thus, it poses little to no threat to public health and the environment, as well. Secondlly, the sources of renewable energy are not just natural, but also "vast and inexhaustible;" therefore, we can assume that renewable energy would continue to supply energy to many people for a long period of time. Thirdly, with the ongoing rising trend, researches and developments pertaining to renewable energy generate more jobs and other economic benefits.

Renewable energy is a viable solution for developing countries that struggle with distributing commercial energy from fossil fuels among its rural and remote areas. Using renewable energy lessens the need for oil and natural gas as energy sources, therefore mobilizing other resources that are less expensive but reliable.

In Africa, for example, there are various projects and business ventures that support the use and distribution of renewable energy sources in rural and remote areas. In fact, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB), South Africa "has the potential to become a 'gold mine' for renewable energy" because of vast solar and wind resources that many investors are looking into for possible business startups and the spread of renewable energy use. In addition, the South African region is also blessed with hydro-energy sources that can produce 40,000 MW of electricity, according to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

In the near future, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will also be establishing the SADC Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE), as part of its advocacy of exploiting solar, wind, and water resources that can provide more energy to African families and solve the power lapses that have been occuring often in the previous years. According to a news report in the website All Africa, the SACREEE would be responsible for consolidating efforts, ideas, projects, and inventions relating to renewable energy sourcing, use, and distribution. This center would attempt to gather into a holistic perspective the different aspects of renewable energy, as utilized in the Southern African region.

The establishment of SACREEE can help ensure that renewable energy is efficiently utilized and distributed across different areas in Africa. Other developing countries which capitalize on the potential of natural resources to provide clean energy can refer to the establishment of SACREEE as a benchmark on renewable energy management.

Humphrey Kariuki Ndegwa was popularly know to be a successful businessman who has an eye for spotting new trends and then go right ahead and operationalize the same to its highest scale.