Around 600 million people in Africa still live without electricity, underscoring a growing energy gap on the continent despite its abundant renewable resources.
Experts warn that the issue is becoming increasingly urgent, as Africa’s population is projected to double by 2050.
In a press release on Sunday, the European Union highlighted that access to affordable and sustainable energy remains one of Africa’s major development challenges.
Although Africa possesses 60 percent of the world’s prime solar potential, it receives just 2 percent of global energy investment due to high capital costs, limited financing, and infrastructural barriers.
The EU stressed that this energy shortfall continues to hinder economic growth, slow industrialisation, and leave millions of households without reliable power.
Many rural and peri-urban communities still rely on generators and firewood, making large-scale clean energy solutions increasingly critical.
In response, Europe has mobilised international partners and financial institutions to accelerate Africa’s energy transition, launching a major €15.5 billion investment campaign aimed at expanding renewable energy generation and electricity access.
The year-long initiative was co-led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in partnership with Global Citizen and supported by the International Energy Agency.
Of the total pledges, the European Union contributed over €15.1 billion. President von der Leyen described the mobilisation effort as a historic step forward for Africa’s clean energy future:
“Today, the world has stepped up for Africa. With €15.5 billion, we are turbocharging Africa’s clean-energy transition. Millions more people could gain access to electricity; real, life-changing power for families, for businesses, for entire communities.
“This investment is a surge of opportunity: thriving markets, new jobs, and reliable, clean energy that meets the needs of partners across the globe. President Ramaphosa and I both look forward to a clean-energy future for the continent. A future led by Africa, with strong support from its friend and partner, Europe.”
Team Europe’s €10 billion contribution included support from member states, the European Investment Bank (€2.1 billion), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (€740 million).
Additional bilateral commitments came from Italy (€2.4 billion), Germany (over €2 billion), the Netherlands including FMO (€250 million), Portugal (€113 million), Denmark (€81 million), Sweden (€44 million), Austria (€5 million), and Ireland (€5 million.
The EBRD also pledged over €600 million separately.
Outside Europe, the African Development Bank committed at least 20 percent of its 17th African Development Fund replenishment to renewable energy, while Norway pledged approximately €53 million for 2026–2028.
The campaign is expected to generate 26.8 gigawatts of renewable energy and bring electricity to 17.5 million households currently without reliable power.
Launched in November 2024, the “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” initiative aims to mobilise both policy and financial support for clean energy, in line with COP28 goals to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency worldwide.
Through the Global Gateway strategy and the Africa Europe Green Energy Initiative, the EU will continue collaborating with African governments to boost renewable energy generation, strengthen transmission networks, and promote cross-border electricity trade to advance the continent’s long-term clean energy transition.
