Assessment of solar energy technologies in Africa-opportunities and challenges in meeting the 2030 agenda and sustainable development goals

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 137; p. 111180
• Main Author: Adenle, Ademola A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Adoption of innovations; Africa; Alternative energy sources; Application; Case studies; Developing countries; education; Energy; Energy development; Energy policy; Energy sources; Energy technology; Ghana; Global environment; Health education; interviews; issues and policy; Kenya; LDCs; Meta-analysis; Objectives; Performance assessment; Policymakers; Poverty; Renewable energy; Renewable energy sources; Renewable resources; Solar energy; Solar energy technologies; South Africa; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Sustainable development goals; World Bank; Africa; Kenya; South Africa; Ghana; Sustainable development goals; Policymakers; Solar energy technologies; Africa
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111180

Renewable energy sources like solar energy have an important role to play towards the implementation of the 2030 agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa. While renewable energy was not stated as one of the technologies for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it played an indirect role towards meeting MDG targets especially in the areas such as household application, health, education and poverty reduction in Africa. However, renewable energy's impacts (including solar energy technologies) were not quantified, and lack of performance assessment could be in part attributed to the weak implementation of solar energy projects in the developing world including countries in Africa. The aim of this paper is to conduct meta-analysis of the literature on the performance of solar energy technologies in order to determine solar energy adoption trends in African countries. This is supplemented with expert interviews and data gathered from the World Bank/Global Environment Facility. Using three case studies of Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, this paper examines the benefits and challenges that are associated with the application of solar energy technologies for meeting SDGs in Africa. Finally, the paper concludes by highlighting the policy implication for the application of solar energy technologies. •Solar energy can play a key role in the implementation of the 2030 agenda including SDGs in Africa.•Solar energy offers potential socio-economic and environmental solutions to the sustainable development challenges.•Lack of a clear policy direction is a key obstacle to solar industry in Africa.•Investment in research and development program is critical to market competitiveness and uptake of solar energy in Africa.