As energy systems advance, strong grids will serve as the foundation for a decarbonised future, promoting climate resilience, energy security, and economic growth.
This is according to a report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) looking into grid opportunities and challenges across Africa.
The report underscores the importance of future-ready grids and mini-grids to be adaptive, shock-resistant, and able to integrate increasing amounts of clean energy. They should be able to handle bidirectional, intermittent renewable flows, requiring upgrades in digitalisation, storage, interconnectivity, and smart planning.
“Investing in grid infrastructure is crucial to meeting the pace and scale of renewable deployment—scaling from 3,870GW in 2023 to at least 11,000GW by 2030. To enable these investments, this project looks to support data-driven decision-making on grids and electricity system networks,” they said.
SEforALL states that five categories can support data-driven assessments of power and transmission project status and readiness for investment; these include:
1. Policy and Market Structure
- Political commitment
- Institutional structure
- Electricity markets and regulations
- Electricity capacity and generation mix
- Variable & nonsynchronous assets
- Energy security & system flexibility
2. Grid Development Ecosystem
- Grid mix, minigrid, distribution, transmission
- Regional interconnectors
- Grid planning and procedures
- Grid development investment ecosystem
- Timeline, tariffs, transparency risks
- Private sector participation
3. Grid Operations
- Institutional setting and procedures for grid’s technical operation
- Grid reliability and efficiency
- Economic dispatch: grid utilisation, renewable energy evacuation
- Grid digitalisation
4. Grid Services to Consumers
- Service quantity – provision of electricity access and consumption
- Service quality – reliability of services
- Affordability of power
Have you read? Mini-grids: Upping energy access in Africa at a much higher cost
5. Sustainability and Just Transition
- Environmental law and regulations
- Inclusive development – public engagement
- Carbon intensity of sector
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Digitised grid operations and huge consumer expansion are top needs for action in Africa
Following a study of 10 African countries, the report states that grids have a favourable policy framework and development ecosystem. However, digitised grid operations and huge consumer expansion are top needs for action.
“Commitment to grid development varies across African countries, with few pledging to the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, though all have renewable targets and most ensure equal grid access; power sector structures range from state-owned to unbundled markets, with Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa moving toward competitive markets and growing regional trade through increased interconnector capacity,” the report said.
Zooming into regional leadership and cooperation, the report states that the advancements in system planning, economic rules (tariffs and ratios), and technical regulations (grid codes) underline the need for further skills and “clear principles to support rapid power system transition, with regional cooperation through the African Union and power pools offering a foundation for efficient resource sharing, cross-border trade, and strategic environmental assessments.”
In terms of uneven grid planning, rising energy grid needs, and regulatory gaps, the report notes that, while many countries recognise the importance of integrated power system planning and have adopted least-cost, geospatial approaches, not all have published forward-looking plans aligned with accelerated energy transition goals.
“Renewable development zones and evacuation corridors are limited, mainly seen in Nigeria and South Africa, and some countries rely on outdated or unrealistic supply-demand projections.
“Transmission capacity is generally sufficient except in Nigeria, and while interconnector expansion efforts are underway, asset age and lack of data constrain modernisation and Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) integration.”
Read the Assessing Grids in Africa report