UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Angola boosts electrification and renewable energy
4/9/2024
10 min read
Feature
Angola may be a hydrocarbon rich country in south-west Africa, but it is increasing its electrification rate and diversifying its energy sources to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). That said, experts warn that private investment is urgently needed for the country to maintain this forward-looking policy, writes Andreia Nogueira.
In 2021, Angola had 5,880 MW of installed power capacity, but only 42.8% of its 35 million inhabitants had access to the national electricity grid, according to the Renewables in Angola – national status report, launched in 2022 by the Angolan Renewable Energy Association (Associação Angolana de Energias Renováveis – ASAER) and the Lisbon, Portugal-based Lusophone Renewable Energy Association (ALER). It is a country where of the 37 million population more than a third, almost 13.5 million, live on less than $2.15/d, according to the World Bank.
That encourages the use of off-grid renewables, with the World Bank authors noting that: ‘The commitment to new renewables is reinforced by the dispersion of rural settlements, and by the fact that the transmission grid connected to the major producing plants still does not reach all the provinces.’ The Bank adds that the ongoing work to connect all the provinces to the country’s electricity distribution system is not economically sustainable, especially considering the low population density.
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Lead Energy Access Analyst Gianluca Tonolo also sees more growth opportunities for the sector. He says that considering almost 15% of Angola’s households own a gasoline or diesel generator for either grid back-up or primary electricity supply, ‘there is a big opportunity to switch to solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems and mini-grids’. This is especially so, given that the government is gradually phasing out gasoline subsidies, and solar PV systems with batteries are becoming increasingly economically viable for families. While currently, he adds ‘only few households’ have a solar PV system in Angola, leaving a relevant space for growth.