Clean and reliable energy fosters inclusive economic growth and delivers broad-based development outcomes in education, health, and essential social services. However, providing affordable—grid and off-grid—energy is becoming increasingly complex, with rising competitive pressures, diverse challenges, and new risks.
At the same time, Africa is faced with the paradox of having some of the best renewable energy resources, including hydro, solar, wind, and geothermal, on the one hand, and low levels of access, weak reliability of supply, and low productive utilization of energy on the other. In the meantime, the falling cost of clean energy solutions, such as solar, presents opportunities to accelerate energy access outcomes across home systems and commercial and industrial sectors.
