Developing “Climate Responsible” Power Infrastructure Across Africa

By Bim Adisa

Developing “Climate Responsible” Power Infrastructure Across Africa

By Bim Adisa

There are a number of critical factors when one considers Africa’s need for development. The continent has a rapidly growing population which is estimated to double by 2050. To alleviate poverty – which is a considerable challenge for the continent – there needs to be a significant amount of industrialization. Such industrialization cannot happen without a sizeable investment in infrastructure, specifically to provide reliable access to electricity. So, the question is, how can all of this be achieved while also considering probably the most pressing global issue of our time – climate change? Which by the way probably impacts Africa most disproportionately.

One of the first points which most people agree on is that developing power infrastructure across Africa should not be a copy-and-paste that simply mimics the path taken by other developed countries. For one, technology enables us to be more efficient from a climate perspective. We can do away with coal and better incorporate renewable sources of generation such as solar which are now at cost parity with fossil-based sources of generation. It is also prudent to have less centralization – more distributed/mini-grids.

There are however also some significant flaws with the current approach to Africa's electrification, which in turn is having an adverse impact on tackling the effects of climate change. Because of the considerable amounts of investments required, current efforts to electrify Africa are largely driven by development agencies. Most of the power projects that are currently being financed in Africa are solar mini-grids, typically small (a few hundred kilowatts peak capacity), and often serving rural areas. While there is absolutely a need for these - there are ~600 million people in Africa with no access to electricity at all, and most live in rural areas – current policies and efforts largely ignore the segment of Africa’s population in urban areas. 

Approximately 400 million people currently live in Africa's cities. But this population is expected to nearly triple to ~1.3bn by 2050. Just like in developed countries, these cities are the nerve centers of economic activity – most businesses are located in cities. And while most African cities have some access to electricity, reliability is a major challenge. The average daily supply of electricity in some of the continent’s largest cities is less than 10 hours, so the population makes up for the difference by running diesel generators (where they can afford it). This inefficiency serves both as an impediment to Africa’s growth, and also as a major contributor to pollution.   

The solution to Africa’s electrification must include a functional grid that serves its cities. And while it is often complex and messy, most cities have existing grid infrastructure that must form a part of the solution. More emphasis must be placed on the last mile distribution – ensuring power that is produced is effectively distributed all the way to end-users with minimum leakage. Achieving this requires indigenous solutions from local players that understand the challenges. On the other hand, ignoring this problem (to conveniently focus on rural mini-grids as is currently the case) would simply ensure continued pollution which would become an even more significant challenge over time with population growth and industrialization.

Personally, I hope that the momentum from events like the recent COP 26 would lead to a bolder approach when it comes to Africa. An approach that is based on innovative solutions that fit the context on the continent, not one that simply copies what has worked elsewhere (without context). It also presents an opportunity to engage the continent in a unique way, by enabling indigenous solutions to solve its own challenges and the challenge of our generation. 

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🎙Startup Series

This week, Jason caught up with Leanne Kemp, Founder & CEO of Everledger. Everledger is an independent technology company that helps businesses surface and converge asset information using a wide array of secure technologies, including blockchain, AI, IoT, and more.

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Community News

• MCJer Colin Williams lost his home last week in the Marshall Fire in Boulder County. Colin started a GoFundMe (https://gofund.me/48ccba8d) “We are deeply appreciative of all the help and material support we have received already - please don't feel like you have to do more, but please consider sharing it with people who still want to help.”

• 💧The MIT Water Innovation Prize application deadline is fast approaching! The MIT Water Innovation Prize is an annual startup competition run by MIT students focused on jumpstarting innovation around water. Since 2015, the prize has awarded up to $50k in grant funding annually to student-led teams from around the globe. If you or someone you know has an idea that could improve the way the world uses, cleans, transports, or even think about water, apply through this link today.

Climate Jobs

For more open positions, check out the #climatejobs channel in MCJ Slack.

• Flux, a fintech startup, is hiring a Product lead (SF or LA), UI/UX (SF or LA, or remote US), Full Stack Engineer (SF or LA, or remote US), and Business Operations and Strategy (SF or LA)

• Verne is hiring for a few roles in SF, including an Executive Assistant

• G2 Venture Partners is looking for several full-time investors

• SJF Ventures is actively hiring for three new positions - an associate (Durham), a senior analyst (SF), and an analyst, portfolio acceleration (NY/Durham)

• Netflix is hiring an impact campaigner to study and grow the impact of climate and sustainability-related content

• Burnt Island Ventures is looking for a Community and Communications lead

• Toucan Protocol is hiring a Recruitment Lead

• Furno Materials is currently hiring for a VP of engineering to lead the technical development of our pilot plant

• Unreasonable is hiring for several key roles Managing Director of People & Culture, Portfolio Manager of UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Press & Communications Senior Manager

• Enduring Planet is hiring a Head of Product

• The U.S. Department of Energy will be substantially ramping up hiring efforts this year to achieve the ambitions set out in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including setting up 60+ new programs to deploy $ billions towards decarbonizing the U.S. economy, create good jobs, and enable an equitable energy transition. Job opportunities here

Climate Events

For more community events, check out the #events channel in Slack or the MCJ Calendar on Luma.

• 🧑‍💻Toucan Protocol AMA with Raphaël Haupt & James Farrell (starting at 12 pm ET on 1/11) Raphaël and James will be answering questions for 48 hours about web3, cryptocurrency, and climate. (Please note, this is an asynchronous, Reddit-style AMA. Join the #mcj-ama channel to participate)

• 🗽​NYC Monthly happy hour for people who care about climate, tech, and building cool things! Blue and Gold has reopened. Vaccines required. Email James McWalter at james@immedaitely.com if any questions! RSVP here.

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