New Paradigm for Electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Are Decentralized Hybrid Systems Changing the Game?

During my mid-2025 visit to Morocco my second trip to the country that year I experienced a distinct and powerful shift in momentum. The Global Growth Congress, where I had the honour of speaking on “Africa’s Energy Future: From Potential to Power,” transcended the usual conference format; it felt like a turning point. The event reflected a growing acknowledgment that Africa’s role in the global energy landscape is no longer peripheral but central. The stakes have been raised, the c ...

I have been traveling to Morocco regularly—at least twice a year—for many years. But this time, the atmosphere in Rabat felt markedly different. I had the honor of addressing the Global Growth Congress, where I spoke on a topic that is rapidly becoming one of the most consequential issues of our time: Africa’s Energy Future: From Potential to Power.We were not merely discussing electrons and megawatts. We were dissecting sovereignty, resilience, global competition, and the future of ...

This paper (see pages: 165-198), included in the book 'Green intersections: the global embedding of climate change in policy' was originally published on bruegel.org   The demand for energy in Africa is growing rapidly, driven by population growth, urbanisation and industrialisation. Nevertheless, over 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, which represents a significant energy gap for the continent. At the same time, Africa is endowed with vast renewable ...

Green industrial policies are essential to enable the structural transformations needed for a successful transition to a low-carbon economy. Because of the pressing need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, it is imperative to reallocate resources strategically from carbon-intensive sectors to sustainable, high-productivity industries. This transition is critical both to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to promote long-term economic growth and sustai ...

Over the next decade, the energy transition will transform the global economic landscape in terms of regulations, industrial and energy investments, and technological solutions. The African continent is set to play a significant role in this transition while addressing its own sustainable development needs. To fully capitalize on this emerging dynamic, African countries should pursue innovative paths tailored to their specific contexts and constraints. They should also identify stra ...