Prudent investments in the renewable energy sector is projected to create over 5.2 million jobs in Africa by 2030.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is optimistic that the new paradigm of energy generation and usage, if well structured, can boost the continent’s economy by an average of 6.4 percent.
The ‘Renewable Energy Market Analysis for Africa and its Regions’ report published on January 2022 by the International Renewable Energy Agency(IRENA) said the era of energy transition promises diverse employment opportunities for African youth population in years ahead.
The Report further estimated that 26 million more jobs can be added to the existing figure by 2050 through sustainable transition investment programmes and policies.
The global intergovernmental renewable energy transition agency analysis maintain that renewables and other energy transition driven technologies has already created 1.9 million jobs across Africa and can grow substantially if more countries invested in the transition processes.
“Our vision for an energy transition in Africa is aligned with global climate which shows the continent can create 26 million more economy-wide jobs by 2050 than is anticipated under “a business as usual scenario plan,” the report established.
The report captured two scenarios analyses. The first scenario termed “the ambitious energy transition scenario (1.5-S) is targeted to reach the global 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) goal based on current plans and the other referred to as the Planned Energy Scenario (PES).
The IRENA report compiled in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) observes that the employment opportunities associated with the transition mission will mainly be concentrated on areas where new infrastructures and installations are created.
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There would also be prospects in technology production, as well as in the supply value chains.
The positive impact of the ongoing transition from conventional power to renewable energy on job creation will be experienced in all five sub- regions of the continent — North, South, East, West, Central and southern Africa.
Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at AfDB said “The African Development Bank is committed to supporting the continent’s energy transition, by facilitating increased private sector investments through its expanding range of green finance instruments, including the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa”.
Kevin Kariuki said shifting from conventional to renewable sources of energy will not only create jobs on the resource rich continent. He said the renewable centered mission is key in overcoming energy poverty, provide needed energy services with less human and ecosystem damages as well as help transform economies for industrialization the development
