Title: Overcoming financial barriers to wider use of renewable energy technology in Africa

Authors: Ogunlade R. Davidson, John Turkson

Addresses: University of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone. UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy & Environment, Riso National, Laboratory, P.O. Box 49, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Abstract: Future energy demand in Africa will rise dramatically due to development desires and increased industrial needs. Coping with this demand will pose a serious challenge because of the economic and environmental constraints of the continent. Exploiting its vast renewable energy sources for this purpose will assist greatly, but financial and other barriers to the rapid growth of associated technologies are significant. This paper explores measures that can be implemented to reduce these financial barriers. The analyses, which are based on lessons from experiences in and out of the region, show that replicating and enhancing current initiatives along with the implementation of suggested policy options could substantially increase the use of renewable energy technologies in Africa.

Keywords: Africa; renewable energy; technology; barriers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2001.000892

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2001 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.117-131

Published online: 30 Jul 2003 *

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