Across East Africa, wind turbines, solar panels, hydro power stations and geothermal power plants symbolise a clean energy revolution.
Countries like Kenya and Rwanda generate 90 and 53 of their electricity from renewable energy sources, respectively. Yet for millions of households and small businesses, power remains painfully expensive. As inflation rises and unstable fuel prices strain consumers, electricity tariffs have become a flashpoint in the broader cost-of-living crisis.
Progress in renewablesAt the First Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi in 2023, African countries committed to expanding renewable energy capacity from 56 GW today to 300 GW by 2030 through the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa APRA. About 600 million people, half of the continent's population, have no access to electricity. At least 900 million people do not have access to clean cooking. The majority of them, women and girls, continue to inhale dirty fumes while preparing food.