India Can Accelerate Africa’s Renewable Energy Growth: Report

Apr 16 (BNP): India can play a meaningful role in accelerating Africa’s clean energy transition by sharing its experience in scaling renewable power, particularly solar and wind energy, according to a recent report.

Over the past decade, India has expanded its renewable energy capacity by more than 130 gigawatts, with clean energy now accounting for over half of its installed electricity base. This growth has been supported by stable policy frameworks, competitive project auctions, and the rapid expansion of distributed solar systems that reach rural and underserved regions.

In Africa, energy access remains a major challenge, with nearly 600 million people still without electricity. However, the continent is witnessing steady growth in renewable energy deployment, with solar and wind projects increasingly powering homes, agriculture, and small industries.

The report highlights Africa’s exceptional solar potential along with its rich reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and copper—resources that are essential for batteries, grid infrastructure, and renewable technologies. In several regions, solar power is already proving more affordable than fossil fuel-based electricity when fuel and infrastructure costs are considered.

It also points to growing collaboration between India and African nations in areas such as grid integration, transmission development, and energy storage solutions, supported by Indian energy institutions and technical partnerships.

Experts suggest that deeper cooperation in financing, technology transfer, and policy design could significantly speed up Africa’s energy transition while strengthening long-term India–Africa clean energy ties.