Large-scale wind and solar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa – REVE
Large-scale wind and solar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa REVE
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Accessible, Reliable, and Affordable Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa
Accessible, reliable, and affordable energy plays an essential role in human and economic development for the people of Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in improving livelihoods and access to opportunities. Renewables are crucial in this context, promising substantial socio-economic gains whilst also addressing the lack of access to electricity that hampers communities’ climate resilience, limiting their adaptive capacities, and increasing their reliance on environmentally harmful fossil-based fuels.
The Role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a key framework for addressing the challenges and opportunities related to energy access and development in Sub-Saharan Africa. These goals provide a roadmap for achieving a sustainable and inclusive future, with specific targets related to affordable and clean energy, climate action, and partnerships for sustainable development.
Creating Enabling Environments for Private Investors
While greater investment in renewables is essential, the creation of enabling environments for private investors could trigger a range of risks for host communities. Many of them are geographically and socio-economically marginalized. The most promising locations for large-scale solar and wind projects in Sub-Saharan Africa are often in rural areas. Yet, an accelerated roll-out of climate and energy solutions with land-intensive requirements would increase competition for land. Many rural residents’ livelihoods rely on the use of land and other natural resources that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Examining the Benefits to Communities
By examining practices at a number of specific large-scale wind and solar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, this report explores the potential benefits to communities adjacent to such projects. The report discusses benefits in a number of categories, including:
- Advantages relating to project siting
- Ownership structures
- Investments in community development
- Skill development and employment opportunities
- Local procurement
- Community energy
- Gender
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs Addressed:
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
Targets Identified:
- Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services
- Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
- Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
Indicators:
- Indicator 7.1.1: Proportion of population with access to electricity
- Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption
- Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities
- Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into their national development plans and policies
- Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management
Analysis:
The article highlights the importance of accessible, reliable, and affordable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa and the potential benefits of renewable energy in addressing the lack of electricity access and improving livelihoods. Based on the content, the following SDGs are addressed:
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
The article emphasizes the role of renewables in improving access to electricity and mentions the need for greater investment in renewables.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The article discusses the potential benefits of large-scale wind and solar projects in terms of employment opportunities, skill development, and local procurement, which align with the goal of achieving full and productive employment and decent work.
SDG 13: Climate Action
The article highlights the importance of renewables in addressing climate change and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
SDG 15: Life on Land
The article mentions the potential competition for land due to the land-intensive requirements of renewable energy projects and the vulnerability of rural residents’ livelihoods to climate change impacts, linking to the goal of promoting sustainable management of land and forests.
Based on the content, the following targets can be identified:
Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services
The article emphasizes the need for accessible and affordable energy services in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
The article highlights the importance of greater investment in renewables in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities
The article discusses the potential benefits of large-scale wind and solar projects in terms of employment opportunities and skill development.
Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
The article emphasizes the role of renewables in addressing climate change and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
The article mentions the potential competition for land due to the land-intensive requirements of renewable energy projects, linking to the goal of promoting sustainable management of land and forests.
The article mentions or implies the following indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
Indicator 7.1.1: Proportion of population with access to electricity
The article highlights the lack of access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa and the need for improved access.
Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption
The article emphasizes the importance of increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix.
Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities
The article mentions the potential employment opportunities provided by large-scale wind and solar projects.
Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into their national development plans and policies
The article highlights the need for integrating climate change measures into national policies and strategies.
Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management
The article mentions the potential competition for land and the vulnerability of rural residents’ livelihoods, linking to the goal of sustainable land and forest management.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services | Indicator 7.1.1: Proportion of population with access to electricity |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities | Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities |
| Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities | Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities | |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into their national development plans and policies |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally | Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management |
Source: evwind.es
