This study is a contribution to the ongoing discussion on the costs and implications of addressing the two fundamental energy challenges facing the African continent, namely achieving universal access to electricity in line with Sustainable Development Goal number 7 and expanding power systems to support economic growth without getting locked into a high-emissions pathway.

Specifically, the study aims to derive insights from economic least-cost expansion modelling to:

• Estimate economic least-cost investment requirements and related emissions; and
• Explore existing structural barriers to and enablers of the energy transition.

The headline estimates indicate a Base Case investment requirement of about USD 454-billion, or USD 64-billion per year from 2023 until 2030, if an optimal investment plan is realized. Behind this headline, there are several interesting results and findings.

Report by the African Development Bank