This article is part of ourEconomy's 'Decolonising the economy' series.
The role of renewable energy has drastically changed in recent years. Just a few decades ago, it was only on the agenda for few ecologically conscious visionaries. Today, our future is unimaginable without a tremendous expansion of renewable energy. This is especially true for Africa, where, firstly, climate conditions are evidently favorable for renewable energies, most obviously for solar technology. Second, the technology is especially convenient for the challenges the continent is facing in energy provision.
Only every second person has access to a reliable and stable supply of energy, with a much lower rate in rural areas. Grid extension to connect every remote village in Africa is very expensive. Technical solutions such as Solar-Home-Systems that provide energy at household levels or so-called ‘off-grid’ solutions like insular energy grids in villages are instead offered as more viable and cheaper alternatives. The global community has pledged to guarantee energy access for everyone. This will only be possible if renewable energy plays a crucial role. In this sense, renewable energy contributes to social justice. The 2018 report of Poor People’s Energy Outlook shows how especially poor people are affected by a lack of access to energy supply.
