Policy and demand to push Southern Africa green power

Subject

Renewable energy outlook for Southern Africa.

Significance

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on October 4 released its 2015 status report on renewable energy. It precedes the adoption of a region-wide strategy, due in 2016, to harness ample solar, biomass and wind resources to reduce the chronic power deficits that limit power access to 43% of the population (falling to 9% in Malawi), straining development.

Impacts

• Reduced power supplies will hurt mining output in Zimbabwe and Zambia, depressing GDP growth in both states.
• Aging national grid infrastructures will encourage states to push off-grid technologies, particularly in rural areas.
• The region's small contribution to global carbon emissions means its renewables drive will do little to slow climate change.
• However, it will be disproportionately affected by global warming, with lower rainfall affecting agricultural yields.