UNGA: GEAPP to invest $16m in Africa’s renewable energy

By Olakunle Oke

With 600 million Africans still living without electricity, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has launched a $16 million initiative at the UNGA to fast-track the continent’s shift to clean energy.

The commitment, unveiled at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, is targeted at supporting Mission 300, an ambitious programme to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of a 2023 World Bank report showing that about 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. GEAPP said its funding would be directed toward renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar.

Part of the investment, sourced from the Bezos Earth Fund, will go into scaling up renewable infrastructure across the continent. Visuals shared at the UNGA highlighted the central role of wind and solar technologies in reducing Africa’s dependence on fossil fuels.

A 2022 International Energy Agency (IEA) study noted that renewables could meet 90 per cent of Africa’s electricity demand by 2050 if supported with storage technologies such as batteries. These, the report stressed, are critical to addressing the intermittency challenges of solar and wind power.

The initiative also comes amid growing concerns over Africa’s energy security. Despite the drop in global energy prices in 2024, the continent remains exposed to volatility in fossil fuel markets due to its heavy reliance on oil and gas.

GEAPP said its latest intervention aims to shield Africa from such shocks, while improving access to affordable and sustainable electricity for millions of people.