Hydropower, a beacon of clean energy, illuminates millions of homes across Africa. As the dominant renewable energy source, it shoulders almost a quarter of sub-Saharan Africa’s electricity generation. Yet, its prominence varies: countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, and Zambia draw over 80% of their electricity from its currents.
Africa teems with hydropower potential. Boasting ample water resources, the region holds an untapped energy promise of 1.4 petawatt hours annually. To grasp this scale, consider powering half a billion households for an entire year with just 1 PWh.
But as hydropower’s potential beckons, political and ecological shadows loom. The standoff over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile underscores the geopolitical ripples of water projects. Moreover, the evolving global climate amplifies these uncertainties.
Giacomo Falchetta, a climate-energy nexus researcher, underscores the climate risks tethered to growing hydropower dependence. The changing global climate, characterized by intensifying droughts and floods, is rewriting the energy playbook faster than most African nations can adapt.
The mechanism of hydroelectricity is simple, yet vulnerable. Water, flowing or stored, turns turbines to generate power. However, as weather patterns shift from historical norms, dams grapple with inconsistent river flows and reservoir levels.
In an exhaustive review, Falchetta dissected the climate’s impact on Africa’s hydropower aspirations. While East Africa might bask in enhanced hydropower yields with wetter climes, Southern and Western Africa stare at parched prospects, endangering electricity generation. Central Africa, however, seems relatively shielded from such rainfall shifts.
Yet, the future remains uncertain. Contrasting climate models sketch diverse outcomes, especially over central and southwestern Africa. But one accord resonates: extreme weather events will surge, potentially destabilizing power grids unless pre-empted by strategic planning.
The hydropower edifice of several nations, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Zambia, stands on shaky ground due to over-reliance and limited alternative energy sources. A few, like Kenya, are diversifying their energy palette, hedging against future uncertainties.
To weather the incoming storm, sub-Saharan Africa must:
- Diversify the Energy Mix: Bolster investments in other renewables like solar and wind, which, in many regions, now outcompete hydropower in cost-efficiency.
- Fortify Power Transmission: Strengthen cross-border energy collaborations, capitalizing on varying weather patterns across countries to ensure a steady power supply.
- Adopt a Nexus Approach: Future power projects must account for evolving water needs in agriculture and urban centers, preempting sectoral water conflicts.
In summation, while hydropower offers a shimmering promise to sub-Saharan Africa, it’s imperative to navigate its associated challenges with foresight. Robust planning, accounting for the intertwined fates of hydropower, water availability, and climate change, can power a resilient, sustainable future for the continent.
This is an Article based on insights by Giacomo Falchetta, an expert in Energy, Climate, and Environment at IIASA, originally published on The Conversation.
