Africa’s digital transformation depends on reliable, low-carbon energy infrastructure. As demand for connectivity, AI, fintech, e-health and digital services grows, renewable energy solutions are essential to support resilient telecom networks, expand inclusion and accelerate sustainable economic growth across the continent.
Category: Energy
Africa: Energy, Renewable Energy, Green Energy, Gas, Oil, Electricity
Africa Didn’t Cause This Energy Crisis. But It Often Pays the Highest Price
Africa continues to face the harshest consequences of global energy disruptions despite playing little role in causing them. In this opinion piece, Ben Ouattara, Head of Africa at Puma Energy, examines how higher fuel import costs, shipping disruptions, inflation and supply chain pressures are impacting African economies. He argues that strengthening energy resilience through diversified supply, strategic infrastructure, flexible policies and regional cooperation is essential to protecting economic growth from future global energy shocks.
The risk of AI tunnel vision in IT efficiency
The risk of AI tunnel vision in IT efficiency explores why focusing solely on AI’s energy consumption overlooks the much larger challenge of improving efficiency across the entire IT estate. As data centre power demand rises in South Africa, organisations must adopt an end-to-end approach that optimises infrastructure, cooling, software, workloads, and data management. The article argues that sustainable IT efficiency is achieved by designing energy efficiency into every layer of traditional and AI infrastructure, enabling greater resilience, lower costs, and scalable digital transformation.
The Risk Problem with Investors Treating African Energy as One Market
Africa’s energy sector offers major investment opportunities, but treating the continent as a single market can lead to costly mistakes. This analysis explains why investors need jurisdiction-specific risk management, highlighting how regulatory frameworks, currency volatility, infrastructure constraints, and political conditions differ across African countries. It explores practical strategies for managing long-term energy investment risks and financing renewable energy projects.
Mezzanine and Open Access Energy Partner to Accelerate Virtual Wheeling Adoption Across South Africa’s Renewable Energy Market
South Africa’s renewable energy market is entering a new phase as Mezzanine and Open Access Energy (OAE) partner to accelerate the adoption of virtual wheeling. By integrating Mezzanine’s Virtual Wheeling Platform into OAE’s Energypro platform, the partnership simplifies renewable energy procurement for corporate energy buyers, independent power producers, and energy traders. The collaboration expands access to clean energy across Eskom- and municipally-connected customers, helping businesses reduce carbon emissions, manage energy costs, and participate in South Africa’s rapidly evolving electricity market.
Powering Beyond the Crisis: Unlocking South Africa’s Economic Revival Through Distributed Energy
South Africa’s energy crisis continues to weigh heavily on economic growth, industrial productivity, and household finances. In this opinion piece, Gerjo Hoffman, CEO of Open Access Energy, argues that distributed renewable energy and private power generation offer the fastest path to economic recovery. By reducing electricity costs, improving energy reliability, and enabling long-term savings through private Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), businesses can regain competitiveness and stimulate GDP growth. The article also highlights the role of financial institutions in accelerating renewable energy investment and calls for urgent regulatory reform to unlock South Africa’s full distributed energy potential.
Climate action key to affordable housing, but buildings decarbonisation stalls
A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme and Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction warns that global buildings decarbonisation is slowing despite rising climate risks and housing affordability pressures. Buildings and construction now account for 37% of global emissions and 28% of energy consumption. The report calls for faster energy-efficiency upgrades, stronger building codes, expanded renewable energy use, and USD 5.9 trillion in investment by 2030 to keep the sector aligned with net-zero climate goals.
Africa’s cement industry and the push for energy security
Africa’s cement industry is expanding rapidly as urbanisation, infrastructure projects and housing demand accelerate across the continent. However, unreliable electricity supply and rising energy costs continue to challenge cement manufacturers. In this op-ed, Krzysztof Lokaj, Africa Development Manager at Wärtsilä Energy
, explains why flexible engine-based power plants are emerging as a practical solution for cement producers seeking energy security, operational reliability and long-term efficiency. The article explores the advantages of reciprocating gas engines over gas turbines and coal-fired plants, particularly in supporting hybrid renewable energy systems across Africa.
The Precision Transition
In The Precision Transition, Louis Strydom of Wärtsilä Energy outlines a pragmatic pathway for Africa’s energy future, balancing rapid electrification with climate goals. The article argues for a “capped carbon overdraft” — a time-limited use of flexible gas power to stabilise grids and enable large-scale deployment of renewables. Highlighting real-world energy challenges such as grid instability, diesel dependence, and rising power demand, the piece emphasizes the role of flexible, future-fuel-ready technologies, including hydrogen and ammonia, in achieving a faster and more resilient energy transition. The analysis positions Africa’s power strategy as a realistic, cost-effective model for sustainable development and early emissions reduction.
5 Energy Market Realities in 2026
In 5 Energy Market Realities in 2026, David McDonald, CEO of SolarAfrica, breaks down the practical forces shaping South Africa’s energy landscape. The article explores why Eskom remains central to the wholesale market, how municipalities are increasingly buying power directly from IPPs, and why energy decisions are shifting from operations to balance sheets. It also examines the impact of rising fixed and capacity charges, the growing role of batteries and hybrid energy solutions, and why wheeling works — even as project financing struggles to keep pace. A grounded, on-the-ground view of how South Africa’s energy market will really operate in 2026.