By:Efe

Global renewable energy capacity is expanding at record levels, with new additions expected to surpass 500 GW in 2024, but only 1.6 percent of that growth is happening in Africa, a missed opportunity that experts warn could deepen the continent’s energy divide.

At the opening of the annual gathering of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) in Abu Dhabi, its Director General Francesco La Camera warned that global renewable capacity must reach 11.2 terawatts (TW) by 2030 to meet the targets set at COP28 in Dubai.

These goals include tripling renewable capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements.

Imbalance in Global Energy Distribution

Speaking at the 15th Irena assembly, the first major global energy event of 2025 and part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, La Camera highlighted the uneven distribution of renewable energy investments, noting that Asia, Europe, and North America account for nearly 85 percent of global installed capacity, while Africa remains far behind despite its vast potential.

“Renewables offer the path forward, a means to reduce dependency on finite sources, stabilize energy costs and empower countries to harness their domestic resources on energy dependence,” La Camera said.

“Despite the continent’s substantial energy needs, Africa’s renewable energy capacity represents only 1.6 percent of the global total,” he said, warning that this imbalance poses a major barrier to sustainable development in the region.

Ditte Juul Joergensen, the European Commission’s Director General for Energy, lamented the lack of progress in Africa. “It is unacceptable that hundreds of millions of people still lack access to electricity.”

According to Irena, investments in renewable energy are falling far short of the $1.5 trillion needed annually by 2030. La Camera stressed that the next five years will accelerate the transition and bridge regional disparities.

Africa’s Push for Green Energy

In a session of the Accelerated Alliance for Renewable Energies in Africa (APRA), Kenyan Energy Secretary Alex Wachira underscored the importance of establishing strong regulatory frameworks to attract investment.

“We need regulatory bodies that protect investors while also ensuring that electricity prices remain fair for the population,” Wachira said, urging African nations to foster a business-friendly environment to boost green energy initiatives.

UN Urges Swift Transition to Clean Energy

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a video message during the assembly, calling on governments to make 2025 a pivotal year for phasing out fossil fuels and adopting clean energy.

“Developing and emerging economies are being left behind,” Guterres warned, noting that, apart from China, these countries have only received $105 billion in global energy investment since 2016.

UN Special Advisor Selwin Hart echoed the UN chief’s concerns, saying the energy transition is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, but most of the investment is concentrated in advanced economies.

“Four out of every five dollars spent on clean energy since the Paris Agreement have gone to China,” Hart said. “Developing countries are struggling with high capital costs and other barriers.”

Hart also reminded the gathering that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with wildfires, floods, and extreme weather events wreaking havoc worldwide. “As an international community, we must work collectively to accelerate this transition,” he said.