The energy transition in the context of Africa
January 2024
News
The energy landscape in Africa is undergoing a profound transformation, marking a pivotal moment in the continent’s sustainable development. Against the backdrop of global efforts to address climate change and promote clean energy, African nations are increasingly embracing an energy transition that holds immense potential for economic growth, environmental sustainability, and improved quality of life.
The Africa Energy Indaba will feature this as a key topic of discussion in its 2024 event programme. The conference will be held from 5 to 7 March 2024 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. “As advocates for positive change, we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to create a resilient and inclusive energy future for the continent,” says managing director, Liz Hart.
Key dynamics of Africa’s energy transition
The success of Africa’s energy transition depends on collaborative efforts from governments, businesses, NGOs and communities. Cooperation on a regional and global scale is essential to share knowledge, mobilise resources and address challenges associated with the transition. This involves:
• Renewable energy integration: Across the continent, there is a growing emphasis on incorporating renewable energy sources into the energy mix. Solar, wind and hydropower projects are gaining momentum, providing not only environmentally-friendly alternatives, but also fostering energy independence.
• Inclusive energy access: A central focus of Africa’s energy transition is ensuring that energy access is inclusive and reaches all segments of the population. Initiatives are underway to bring electricity to remote and underserved areas, unlocking new opportunities for education, healthcare and economic development.
• Technological advancements: The adoption of advanced technologies such as smart grids, energy storage solutions, and digital infrastructure is playing a crucial role in optimising energy systems. These innovations enhance efficiency, reliability and the overall resilience of energy networks.
• Policy and regulatory support: Governments and regulatory bodies across Africa are actively shaping policies to support and accelerate the energy transition. This includes creating incentives for renewable energy investments, establishing regulatory frameworks, and fostering public-private partnerships.
Further reading:
RS South Africa shapes future engineering talent
RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa is demonstrating that nurturing future engineers goes beyond traditional classrooms or competitions. On STEM Day, the company shone a light on the full spectrum of its educational initiatives.
Read more...
ABB and Compu-Power bring high-efficiency UPS innovation to IS3 X-Change 2025
News
ABB recently participated in the 31st annual IS
3X-Change 2025 in Cape Town, alongside its long-standing channel partner Compu-Power.
Read more...
UKZN’s SMART lab wins aviation award
News
: The SMART Lab at UKZN was awarded first place in the Aviation Research and Development category at the Civil Aviation Authority of South Africa’s award ceremony for outstanding contributions and achievements in the aviation sector.
Read more...
Meta and partners announce completion of 2Africa subsea cable system
News
Meta, in partnership with leading global and regional telecommunications companies, has announced the completion and activation of the core 2Africa subsea cable system. This marks a historic milestone in digital infrastructure, establishing what the world’s longest open-access subsea cable system.
Read more...
RS South Africa retains Level 2 B-BBEE status
RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa has once again achieved Level 2 B-BBEE verification.
Read more...
SEW-EURODRIVE unveils world class facility in Gqeberha
News
In a landmark event in the Eastern Cape attended by key customers and industry leaders, SEW-EURODRIVE officially opened its expanded state-of-the-art facility in Gqeberha, marking a major milestone in its strategy to strengthen regional support and deepen its footprint in the region.
Read more...
Africa’s brightest young battery innovators
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric and Enactus, the international NGO dedicated to inspiring students through entrepreneurial action, have announced the winners of the 2025 Energy Transition Battery Innovation Challenge, funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation. It empowers young innovators to design battery solutions addressing the region’s most pressing energy challenges.
Read more...
Africa’s strategic role in powering the global clean energy future
News
The 2026 Africa Energy Indaba is to spotlight Africa’s mineral wealth, industrialisation potential and the urgent need for sustainable value chain development.
Read more...
The road to the Indaba
News
The Africa Automation Indaba 2026 is set to become a landmark gathering for Africa’s automation, process control and manufacturing community.
SA Instrumentation and Control will be running a dedicated editorial series spotlighting the voices, ideas and debates shaping Africa’s industrial future.
Read more...
Crash reconstruction tests advance vehicle safety research
News
The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Scientific Multidisciplinary Advanced Research Technologies (SMART) Lab recently participated in a series of collaborative crash reconstruction tests held at the Toyota Test Track.
Read more...