Africa
Africa Clean Energy Corridor
West Africa Clean Energy Corridor
Pan-Arab Clean Energy Initiative
Entrepreneurship Support Facility
Overview
Africa’s rapid economic expansion and growing population create a daunting energy challenge, amid rising expectations for improved resilience and sustainability. Finding a sustainable way to meet growing energy needs is one of the core development challenges for the continent.
Africa is rich in renewable energy sources, including hydro, sun, wind and others, as well as in critical minerals key to the energy transition. Although progress is ongoing through effective planning, securing funding is now essential to build the infrastructure and establish a sustainable energy mix.
African Heads of State set an ambitious goal to increase the continent’s renewable energy generation capacity from 56 GW in 2022 to at least 300 GW by 2030.
The Agency has engaged closely with African countries since its formation in 2011. It has a dedicated Sub-Saharan Africa team, while North Africa work is under the purview of the MENA (URL link). Engagement with Atlantic and Indian Ocean African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) occur under the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative. Strong linkages with regional programmes and initiatives have strengthened synergies in the pursuit of Africa’s energy transformation.
As is the case elsewhere, renewables are an increasingly favoured option in Africa because of environmental concerns, but also, increasingly, because they are an economical option. Fostering the continued growth of modern renewables in Africa is imperative.
IRENA work in the region
Key data
Past Events
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13 February 2026 Virtual
IRENA Flexibility Analysis & Planning Support Programme
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10-11 February 2026 Accra, Ghana
Capacity-Building Workshop on Mini-Grid Tender Preparation in Ghana
