Research group certifies Rwanda as having a comprehensive energy strategy

Economic growth, population growth or electricity as an export commodity - there are many reasons for the increasing demand for energy in Africa. "Against the backdrop of the effects of climate change, African governments are developing policies to push the expansion of renewables," says Dr. Simone Claar, head of the BMBF's Glocalpower junior research group. Policies have been designed and investments have been made since the 1990s to meet this need and drive the expansion of renewables. Rapid expansion of renewables appears particularly attractive to spur economic growth and drive industrialization.

"The various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and especially SDG 7, access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, make it clear that social issues cannot be sidelined to ensure a successful energy transition," emphasizes Dr. Simone Claar.

Many countries are facing the challenge of electrifying rural regions. But the issues of gender equality or energy access for refugees and other vulnerable groups should not be ignored either. In this regard, each country takes its own path and sets different priorities.

Assessing energy justice

To take a closer look at the different approaches African countries are taking to energy transition policies, the Glocalpower research team categorized these efforts using two indicators. The first indicator shows how fully the energy transition policies of individual countries address the different problem situations in the energy sector. This indicator is largely based on the 2020 paper "Is green a Pan-African color? Mapping African renewable energy policies and transitions in 34 countries." In addition, there is the second indicator, which distinguishes between the different equity aspects of distribution, access and participation. The more extensively a country considers these aspects in its policies, the higher the researchers rated the country in terms of energy equity.

Energy policies in countries: Rwanda as a good example

How can we now imagine a successful integration of equity aspects into energy transition policies? According to their assessment, the researchers judge Rwanda with its comprehensive energy strategy as a good example. In addition to expected points such as the formulation of energy targets or the expansion of the grid, aspects of "green industrialization" are also addressed, which should provide new jobs. In addition, grid expansion is not limited to urban regions or industrial energy access, but the energy strategy also formulates a detailed plan for rural electrification. These measures will also be supplemented by workshops on the use of renewable energies. A special focus is placed here on the promotion of women in the energy sector, which further emphasizes the important equity aspect of participation in renewable energy.

In direct contrast, a clear energy transition policy is hardly present in countries such as Burkina Faso or Burundi. Finally, an example in the "midfield" is offered by Zambia, which can boast some strong individual projects with foreign participation, but has not yet formulated a uniform energy transition strategy. This also makes it more difficult for equity aspects, because well-intentioned individual projects only selectively ensure equitable access to energy and strengthen participation. A strongly market-oriented approach also ensures that priority is given to satisfying the needs of foreign investors, while industrialization and job prospects are pushed into the background.

The project: Glocalpower
Glocalpower is funded by the BMBF. On March 1, the project became a joint project between the University of Kassel and the University of Hamburg. The German scientists are researching the topic together with local partners in Zambia, Ghana and South Africa. Transfer workshops are planned together from the end of 2021.

Further information
The study "Assessing African Energy Transitions: Renewable Energy Policies, Energy Justice, and SDG 7" by Franziska Müller, Manuel Neumann, Carsten Elsner, and Simone Claar has been published in the journal "Politics and Governance": https: //www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/3615

To the study: Is green a Pan-African color? Mapping African renewable energy policies and transitions in 34 countries: http://tiny.cc/AfricanEnergyPolicies

Contact:

Dr. Simone Claar
Head of BMBF Junior Research Group
Tel: 0561 804-3931
Email: sclaar@uni-kassel.de