The Global Clean Green Power Revolution Has Given Africa A Chance To Make Things Right

The Global Clean Green Power Revolution Has Given Africa A Chance To Make Things Right

By Happy Benson

Africa can turn its fortunes for the better through a serious commitment to the renewable energy sector. Unfortunately, most African countries have yet to develop a well-constructed green technology framework critical to this sector’s success.

Attempting to remediate a degraded planet, the rest of the world is partaking in the green revolution to secure a reduction in energy costs and to lessen their dependence on fossil energy. Africa, on the other hand, needs to participate in the renewable energy movement primarily not to slash its energy bills but to gain access to energy.

Africa tops the charts in every major development metric as the continent that has the most development needs. In other words, whatever we have done up until now isn’t working. This calls for a drastic shift in strategy in critical sectors such as energy, education, agriculture, and healthcare, if one expects any meaningful change in Africa’s fortune.

Massive investment and engagement in the renewable energy revolution may provide the charge needed to spark an economic revolution. Accessibility to energy can jumpstart Africa’s ailing economies by stimulating key sectors, building capacities, enabling creative opportunities, and invigorating an extensive dormant workforce. It wouldn’t be an overstatement, nor could it be considered foolhardy, to say that Africa should lead the charge in the green technology movement. Africa ought to be proactive that active. To the Africans, this means everything: a new life, a new beginning, and a promise of a brighter future.

Below is a look at how green technology can change lives in Africa.

Accessibility to Electrical Power

Green technology has the potential to grant access to electricity to hundreds of millions of Africans. There is no misgiving that inaccessibility to, or a rationed power supply, has inflicted acute economic hardships and caused a tremendous loss of revenue to Africans. According to the International Energy Agency, “close to 600 million people are still without access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa … half of the sub-Saharan African population without access to electricity lives in five countries: Nigeria, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.” To put this in the proper perspective, the number of Africans without electricity is the equivalent of the combined total population of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Italy, and Spain. Africa can initiate a massive economic overhaul by concentrating its energies on the renewable energy sector. Access to electrical power is critical to empowering the African masses through gainful engagements and employment opportunities.

Employment

There are tons of employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector. We live in a communication/service age,  which means that most of today’s jobs and services rely on the electrical power supply to function. It is noteworthy that the world is increasing embracement of energy-efficient vehicles as a means of transportation.

There are huge employment and business opportunities in the electric mobility industry. These jobs and ventures can be found in the manufacturing plants, EV charge stations, sales/servicing, etc.

Again, more property owners are now transitioning to smart and energy-efficient building. This not only is environmentally responsible but also saves them money. This development presents job opportunities in the millions in solar vocational skills centers, solar equipment sales, installation and maintenance, energy auditors/consultants, and customer service/sales representatives. The contribution of stable power supply towards employment opportunity generation cannot be overemphasized.

Education

Lack of education is unquestionably one of the biggest impediments to development and human progress plaguing African society. The world now utilizes high-speed internet and virtual classrooms to educate its young ones. For this to be possible, accessibility to energy must be established. The stability of power supply is a basic ingredient for the attainment of quality education. Green technology can help Africa educate millions more of its citizens with relative ease and greater efficiency by making electricity more accessible and stable.

Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture enabled by green technology has presented farmers across the world a unique opportunity to increase yields and productivity and diversify into the energy business. Believe it or not, farmers are selling more than just farm produce these days. They are also selling energy, and they seem to be doing both considerably well. Commercial farming is traditionally practiced on a vast expanse of land, and this makes it suitable for the installation of windmills, This makes it ideal for biomass energy production. They are usually in the open and unobstructed by shades. As a result, it is suitable for the installation of the solar system. Since farmers have the flexibility and room to combine different forms of renewable sources, they can produce more than enough energy for themselves, allowing them to sell off the excess power generated.

African farmers can also benefit tremendously from green technology, as it can make them more productive and efficient by increasing yields and shortening crop cycles. It can also help them gain control over certain unfavorable climate conditions. This will enable them to grow more varieties of crops. For robust commercial agriculture to be attained, increased energy generation and steady power supply must be given commensurate attention.

Security and Crimes

There’s no contradicting the serious relationship between unemployment and crimes. A high rate of unemployment correlates to a high rate of crimes and insecurity. Gainful employment is a great way to combating crimes and improving the security challenges in Africa. Green technology offers a solution to this problem in providing job and business opportunities for idle African youths.

Accessibility to electricity also plays a critical role in fighting crimes. Law enforcement agents rely on public cooperation and the relevant gadgets and devices, most of which are powered by electricity. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, since 600 million people do not have access to the electrical power supply, they could not assist the police and law enforcement agents in real-time in averting crimes, because the real-time communication required to make this possible relies on a functional telecommunication system powered by electricity. The installation of security cameras and another surveillance system that assists law enforcement agents in investigating crimes is also powered by electricity, and the lack of a steady power supply makes this unachievable.

The police’s ability to avert and solve crimes is a very important part of criminal justice in that it brings justice to the victims and serves as a deterrence. People are less inclined to commit crimes when they know that they will likely be caught and punished. It is also noteworthy that socio-economic cum political development and advancement is dependent upon a safe, peaceful, and secure environment. No one invests in an insecure, violent-stricken, and crisis-ridden environment.

 

Healthcare

Modern-day medicine and health care system runs on electricity. Medical doctors and healthcare workers cannot provide quality medical care without power. Renewable energy can provide electrical power to medical facilities in areas off the grid and supplement energy in areas in which power supply is rationed.

Healthcare could also be made affordable by this development in that a reduction in the health facilities operation costs would ultimately translate into a decrease in healthcare costs Consistent and stable power supply is not only a basic requirement but also an indispensable tool for the attainment of quality healthcare.

Entrepreneurship

Green technology can open doors for entrepreneurs and open the minds of many others to consider being entrepreneurs. Imagine if the 600 million sub-Saharan Africans without electricity have had access to it. About ten percent of them became entrepreneurs, and 60 million businessmen and women investing in and building up the African economy. And 60 million constitute the total population of 17 African countries; South Sudan, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, Togo, Libya, Central Africa Republic, Mauritania, Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Gambia, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Mauritius, and Equatorial Guinea.

The potential of green technology and the difference it can make in Africans’ lives cannot be exaggerated. To turn Africa around, we must turn to green technology.