India Has Potential To Power Africa’s Green Energy Transition

NEW DELHI – India can play a key role in helping Africa expand renewable energy capacity by sharing its experience in scaling solar and wind power, according to an article published by India Narrative.

The article said India has added more than 130 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity over the last decade, with renewables now accounting for just over half of the country’s installed electricity capacity. It said this experience could help African nations accelerate their own energy transition.

Across Africa, the shift to clean energy is aimed at improving reliable electricity access for homes, hospitals, farms, and industries. The article noted that around 600 million people on the continent still do not have access to electricity, even as renewable energy projects continue to expand.

“India’s expansion has been driven by competitive auctions, clear policy signals, and a focus on distributed solar that reaches small town grids and rural households. For African governments, some of those lessons — transparent tenders, predictable tariffs, and a strong domestic engineering base — are transferable, even if the exact regulatory design must be adapted to local conditions,” the article, written by Zuri Amondi, stated.

The report said Africa receives some of the world’s highest levels of solar radiation. Between 2020 and 2025, African governments and private investors committed roughly 25 gigawatts of renewable capacity, with another 11 gigawatts secured through private sector deals. Solar energy now accounts for a majority of new capacity additions, it said.

It added that in many African countries, building new solar power projects is cheaper than developing new gas-fired plants when transmission costs and fuel price volatility are considered.

The article also said Africa is central to the global clean energy supply chain because of its reserves of critical minerals such as cobalt, copper, manganese, platinum group metals, and lithium, which are used in batteries, electroliers, and wind turbines.

It noted that Indian utilities have already begun sharing expertise with African counterparts in grid modernization, energy storage, and integrating renewable power. Power Grid Corporation of India, for example, has partnered with Africa50 and other African institutions on transmission projects aimed at linking power systems across countries.

“India can help by scaling up patient financing, sharing hard-won lessons on grid integration and solar pump schemes, and supporting African-led rules for critical minerals value addition. If those elements are aligned under strong African institutions and transparent contracts, the India–Africa renewable energy partnership can become a model of how two large, developing regions can build growth, resilience, and cleaner power together,” the article said. (IANS)