USAID Administrator Samantha Power. PHOTO/SCREENSHOT
By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced a new Power Africa initiative for East and Central Africa to provide a five year, up to $88.9 million support, subject to the availability of funds, that will expand access to cleaner, reliable energy in sub-Saharan Africa.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power made the announcement at the Africa Energy Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, during remarks to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Power Africa, a U.S. government-led partnership aimed at ending energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2013, Power Africa has helped deliver access to electricity to more than 172 million people across sub-Saharan Africa.
The Power Africa program will support 10 million on- and off-grid connections for households and businesses in the region, providing 50 million people access to new or improved electricity generated from cleaner fuel sources.
In addition, the program will mobilize $4.7 billion in new public and private investment to support 1,227 megawatts of clean energy capacity and develop 1,500 km of new transmission lines. This critical infrastructure will deliver electricity to homes and businesses.
The latest developments comes at a time global renewable energy generation capacity grew by 9.6 percent by the end of 2022 despite energy crisis around the globe, a new study released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows.
By the end of 2022, global renewable generation capacity amounted to 3372 Gigawatt (GW), growing the stock of renewable power by 295 GW or 9.6 per cent. An impressive 83 per cent of all power capacity added last year was produced by renewables.
The Renewable Capacity Statistics 2023, shows that renewable energy continues to grow at record levels despite global uncertainties, confirming the downward trend of fossil fueled power generation.
By the end of 2022, global renewable generation capacity amounted to 3372 Gigawatt (GW), growing the stock of renewable power by 295 GW or 9.6 per cent. An impressive 83 per cent of all power capacity added last year was produced by renewables.
It also follows an announcement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Kenya is poised to become a global leader for clean energy and climate action.
Secretary Blinken while on a virtual tour of Africa, Kenya included that was to provide him with a glimpse of the nearly $600 million in U.S. financing across geothermal, wind, and solar renewable energy investments praised for its initiatives on renewable energy and climate change.
