Africa added 2 GW of hydropower last year, but IHA says 90% of on-river potential untapped
New hydropower capacity by region in 2023
Photo by International Hydropower Association
Africa added over 2 GW of hydropower capacity in 2023 but 90% of the continent’s on-river hydropower potential remains untapped, a new report states.
Published by the International Hydropower Association (IHA), the ‘2024 World Hydropower Outlook’ reports that Africa added more new capacity in 2023 than any region besides East Asia, where 8 586 MW was added.
Nigeria (740 MW), Uganda (408.2 MW), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (381.7 MW) were also among the top 10 countries worldwide for new installations.
Nevertheless, at 42 GW, Africa’s installed hydropower capacity, which last year produced 158 TWh, was still lagging that which is found in other continents and further expansion, the IHA argues, will require private funding, policy certainty and international support.
“Nigeria alone has the potential to exceed 14 120 MW, translating to over 50.8 TWh annually,” the report states, while noting that Cameroon boasts 20 GW of untapped potential and Angola a further 12 GW.
IHA chairperson Anton-Louis Olivier, who is also Serengeti Energy CEO, argues that the “increasingly solar-power dominated power systems that we are seeing across the continent” will require not only the maintenance of the existing fleet but the addition of new hydropower capacity.
IHA president Malcolm Turnbull underlines this point, arguing that hydropower could complement variable renewable energy such as solar PV and wind by providing “balance and flexibility”.
“Governments need to plan for a balanced mix of renewable energy, including for both generation and long-duration storage,” Turnbull adds.
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