Barriers for the Uptake of Renewable Energy Capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Energy access and reliability remain major challenges in SSA, as only 47% of the population has access to electricity, well below the global average of 90%. Low energy access is largely due to insufficient grid coverage, particularly in rural areas, which leaves millions of people without basic energy access. Renewable energy shows a clear opportunity for SSA countries to better meet supply deficits while generating environmental benefits. Yet, there are several challenges that have slowed the growth in the uptake of renewable energy across SSA. These can be grouped into policy and regulatory, financial, and technical barriers. To further drive progress, ecosystem stakeholders must continue collaborating on policy, financial, and technical solutions to improve policies and increase investment across various consumer segments.