Abstract
The phenomenon of inadequate power supply in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been a subject of great interest over the years because of its intractable nature and its importance for development; SSA accommodates about 55 per cent of the more than one billion people without access to electricity globally. Moreover, in many SSA countries, electricity access rates are decreasing because electrification efforts are slower than population growth. In recent years, however, certain SSA countries have demonstrated that with political will and access to appropriate finance, electricity access can be accelerated. The overwhelming calls for clean (green) energy sources into the energy mix cannot be overemphasised. Drawing from different disciplines, this IDS Bulletin provides new perspectives that go beyond the identification of obstacles to renewable energy development in SSA. The contents of these contributions underscore the complexity surrounding the clean electrification challenge in SSA; and demonstrate the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach in the design of interventions.
Highlights
1 Introduction Nearly ten years ago, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was defined as ‘underpowered’ in a World Bank report diagnosing the state of its physical infrastructure (Eberhard et al 2008)
In many SSA countries, electricity access rates are decreasing because electrification efforts are slower than population growth
Willenbockel et al.’s article shows that Ghana’s attraction to a fossil fuel-based model, as described in Bawakyillenuo’s article in this IDS Bulletin, is justified economically due to the possibility of higher tariffs at the beginning of the transition, the lower cost of gas, and a pre-existing gas infrastructure, as well as Institute of Development Studies | bulletin.ids.ac.uk the contribution of natural resource extraction to real gross domestic product (GDP) growth
Summary
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was defined as ‘underpowered’ in a World Bank report diagnosing the state of its physical infrastructure (Eberhard et al 2008). Willenbockel et al.’s article shows that Ghana’s attraction to a fossil fuel-based model, as described in Bawakyillenuo’s article in this IDS Bulletin, is justified economically due to the possibility of higher tariffs at the beginning of the transition, the lower cost of gas, and a pre-existing gas infrastructure, as well as Institute of Development Studies | bulletin.ids.ac.uk the contribution of natural resource extraction to real gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
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