COMPREHENSIVE INNOVATION RENEWABLES
AFRICA’S GREEN ENERGY FUTURE MUST BE WRITTEN ON AFRICAN TERMS
The success of the energy transition should be measured by its ability to generate shared prosperity By Wandile Mlilo, PhD Student, University of Johannesburg
A cross Africa, the expansion of renewable energy technologies is widely seen as a pathway toward sustainable development. Solar and wind projects are spreading rapidly, supported by climate finance and growing global commitments to decarbonization. In countries such as South Africa and Kenya, the rollout of renewable energy has become central to energy planning and economic strategy. Yet the transition to green energy raises an important question: Will it also be just? The transition provides an opportunity to replace fossil fuel systems, contributing to global climate targets such as the Paris Agreement, while also creating job opportunities. Yet such narratives often prioritize speed and efficiency to meet targets and grow sectors – overlooking who the transition is designed for, who is included in shaping it and ultimately who owns, controls, funds and benefits from these green technologies. Because technological deployment alone cannot guarantee equitable outcomes such as access, fairness, decent work and sustainability, these outcomes are influenced by institutions. The lack of deliberate, justice-centered institutions risks reinforcing Africa’s dependency on the Global North while deepening existing inequalities. Africa needs to redefine its innovation policy for a just transition by focusing on local industrial growth, inclusive skills development and local ownership to prevent the recurrence of past inequitable, extractive practices. The energy transition must be more than a
technological change; it should involve a deep reorganization of power dynamics, production capabilities and social equity. Green technologies, jobs and local industrial development Across the continent, countries are expanding their clean energy infrastructure. South Africa, for example, is doing this through its Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). As of 2026, Kenya generates nearly 90 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, with significantly increased capacity from solar and wind power, according to the International Energy Agency. But industrial gains remain elusive as many countries are still heavily dependent on imported technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines and battery components that are manufactured abroad, limiting opportunities for domestic manufacturing and capability development. Green technology projects are often funded by international capital, developed by foreign firms and integrated into global value chains where domestic policymakers exercise little control. Most projects initiated in Kenya are funded by international donors because local stakeholders often face high upfront costs, including import expenses that hinder cost-effective renewable energy production. African countries find themselves in a paradoxical position: Exporting critical minerals while importing
technologies built from them, thus maintaining dependency. To change the current landscape, governments must intentionally develop and fully commit to innovation policies that align with their energy and industrial policies. This means incentivizing local firms to acquire technological capabilities, implementing procurement strategies that promote local manufacturing, facilitating technology transfers and encouraging joint ventures, while strictly enforcing local content thresholds for goods, services and labor. Critical to this approach will be maintaining effective political coordination, enhancing bureaucratic capacity and the courage to challenge entrenched domestic and international interests that benefit from the existing system. Without that political will, the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure may generate clean electricity without creating significant local industrial development or employment. Because of limited manufacturing capacity in African countries, construction and installation jobs remain the main categories of renewable energy employment, as seen in the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project in Kenya that houses around 11 percent of the country’s installed capacity and provides low-cost energy to the national grid. However, construction jobs are often short-term while installation tasks are limited in scope. The main driving force behind structural change lies in manufacturing, engineering and research, along with the educational and skills development
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