Energizing Africa For Its Own Future
THEY CALL AFRICA THE DARK CONTINENT
Fact is...nearly 600 million Africans lack access to electricity today. Only seven countries have electricity access rates over 50 percent, and the rest of the region has an average electrification access rate of just 20 percent. This is a major barrier to eradicating poverty and building shared prosperity.
THE AFRICA DILEMMA
According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, "More than half of global population growth between now and 2050 is expected to occur in Africa. Furthermore, of the additional 2.4 billion people projected to be added to the global population between 2015 and 2050, 1.3 billion will be added in Africa." Is Africa doomed?
THE GOAL
The 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development is a global partnership to reduce poverty, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our continued existence.
ABUNDANT RENEWABLE ENERGY IN AFRICA
The key to addressing the energy dilemma is to provide sustainable energy for all. Sustainable energy provides new opportunities for unprecedented growth. It enables businesses to get started and grow, it generates jobs, and it even creates new markets. Countries can grow more competitive economies and thus improve the overall quality of life for all. As such, the United Nations has designated the period 2014-2024 as the International Decade of Sustainable Energy for All.
LIMITS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
Renewable energy has to be consumed immediately since it is instantaneous. It is also intermittent because the overall time period that electricity can be created is limited by the duration and strength of sunlight as well as prevailing wind patterns and speed. This hinders an electricity supply that is consistent and reliable to meet the constant electricity demands. It is clear that in order to utilize the full potential of renewable energy, battery storage is essential.
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE IS AFRICA'S GAME CHANGER
Intermittency from renewable sources such as solar and wind can be constrained or even overcome by the use of electricity storage, in which excess electricity is stored for later use. This pairing between renewable energy and electricity storage makes the possibilities for reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy truly limitless. Battery electricity storage is a key technology in the world’s transition to a sustainable energy system. For Africa, this is a game changer.
HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAPFROG A DIRE SITUATION
Renewable energy,
MADE POSSIBLE WITH AFFORDABLE BATTERY STORAGE
can unlock major potential for African countries to finally obtain reliable, modern and clean energy to stimulate and support industrial and economic development.
This in turn can lead to significant social improvements, poverty alleviation, and a meaningful contribution to reducing Africa’s global-warming footprint.
Africa's time has come.
