Keypoints:
- Africa could save $5tn by 2050 with a full shift to renewables.
- Renewables would create 5.4m jobs, far more than fossil fuels.
- Decentralised solar and wind offer fastest route to energy access.
A NEW report from Power Shift Africa has laid out a compelling roadmap showing that Africa can achieve universal energy access, stimulate job creation, and save up to $5 trillion by transitioning to a 100 percent renewable energy system by 2050.
According to the study, the investment required to achieve a fully renewable energy future—estimated at $7.3 trillion—would be entirely covered and surpassed by fuel cost savings of $8.3 trillion, making the green transition not only technically possible but economically optimal.
This is by far the cheapest and most inclusive pathway to sustainable development and climate resilience for Africa, Power Shift Africa said in its report.
Solar and wind can power Africa’s growth
Africa possesses vast untapped renewable energy potential, especially in solar photovoltaics, which alone could supply more than the continent’s future needs. The report projects that reaching 100 percent renewable energy would require around 3,500 GW of installed capacity by 2050—less than 1 percent of Africa’s solar potential.
By 2050, solar PV would account for 2,615 GW and wind energy 625 GW, with electrification spanning sectors such as transport, industry, cooking, and building heating and cooling.
Notably, building this system would require less than 1 percent of Africa’s total landmass, according to modelling conducted by the University of Technology Sydney on behalf of the report’s authors.
A renewable system means millions of jobs
The renewable energy transition would create 5.4 million energy sector jobs by 2050, significantly more than the 3.2 million projected under a business-as-usual scenario. It would also bring widespread health benefits by phasing out fossil fuels, especially for cooking.
Today, 970 million Africans still rely on wood, charcoal, or waste for cooking. The report urges a shift toward electric cooking appliances, calling for government support to make them accessible, affordable, and locally produced.
Local grids and decentralisation are key
A major aspect of the plan is the creation of off-grid and decentralised energy systems to reach the 720 million people who live more than 10 km from existing transmission infrastructure.
Island grids—standalone mini-systems ranging from a few kilowatts to several megawatts—can be scaled and eventually interconnected to national grids. This bottom-up approach allows energy access to expand rapidly without relying on large-scale infrastructure rollouts.
Structural barriers must be removed
Despite the opportunities, the report acknowledges several structural barriers, including Africa’s debt burden and limited access to affordable finance. These issues are compounded by a global financial system that often locks African countries into extractive economic models.
To break this cycle, Power Shift Africa calls for:
- Debt cancellation and financial reform at the international level
- Scaled-up climate and development finance, including the redirection of fossil fuel subsidies
- Domestic revenue mobilisation and taxation reforms
- A pivot away from extractive and low-value-added exports toward regional industrialisation
False promises of fossil fuel expansion
The report also challenges the growing narrative that fossil fuel expansion—especially for gas exports to Europe—is necessary for Africa’s development.
The idea that gas expansion equals development is a false promise, it warns. It risks locking Africa into outdated, extractive economic models.
Instead, it argues for an Africa-led development model rooted in energy sovereignty, food security, and decentralised, people-centred planning.
A pan-African energy strategy
To make the renewable transition a reality, the report calls for a coordinated Pan-African industrial policy that supports:
- Manufacturing of key components like solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries
- Agro-ecological food systems to replace industrial agriculture
- Electrification of transport and efficiency upgrades across sectors
- Investment in R&D and skills development
Key to this strategy is ensuring African ownership, with energy plans designed to meet local needs rather than serving export markets.
Renewable transition is the cheapest path
The economic modelling underpinning the report shows that a renewable energy system is not only feasible but significantly cheaper in the long run.
Between 2020 and 2050:
- Business-as-usual would cost $22.36 trillion in fuel and infrastructure
- A 100 percent renewable path would cost $17.92 trillion, saving $4.44 trillion overall
Solar and wind are already the cheapest and fastest-to-deploy technologies. As the cost of renewables continues to fall, and storage technology advances, the economic case will only grow stronger.
Urgency and opportunity
The report’s authors stress that the moment to act is now. With Africa’s energy infrastructure still underdeveloped, the continent can leapfrog dirty fossil systems and build a clean, modern energy system from the ground up.
Power Shift Africa’s executive director, Mohamed Adow, said: Africa stands at a crossroads. We can follow the outdated path of fossil fuel dependence, or we can take the bold step towards a renewable future that serves our people, protects our planet, and builds lasting prosperity.
A renewable future is within reach
With clear policy direction, financial support, and a shift in development priorities, Africa can lead the world in building a clean energy economy.
A 100 percent renewable energy future is not only possible—it is the most rational, just and cost-effective path for Africa’s development, the report stresses.
