The development of the electricity supply sector is characterised by a dynamically growing renewable energy market and an increasing share of renewable electricity. By 2050, 73% of the electricity produced in Africa will come from renewable energy sources. A main driver for the development of solar power generation capacities will be the export of solar electricity to OECD Europe. ‘New’ renewables – mainly wind, solar thermal energy and PV – will contribute more than 60% of electricity generation.

The installed capacity of renewable energy technologies will grow from the current 21 GW to 388 GW in 2050, increasing renewable capacity by a factor of 18 over the next 42 years. More than 60 GW CSP plants will produce electricity for export to Europe.

Figure 6.55 shows the comparative evolution of different renewable technologies over time. Up to 2020, hydro-power and wind will remain the main contributors to the growing market share. After 2020, the continuing growth of wind will be complemented by electricity from biomass, photovoltaics and solar thermal (CSP) energy.