World Energy Day Conference 2022: Empowering Energy Independence in Africa

What is World Energy Day?

On October 22nd, the world celebrated World Energy Day for the 10th year running. The international day was created in 2012 by the World Energy Forum: a global platform for energy leadership. The day is used to raise awareness about energy consumption and incite planetary conversation about sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

How was World Energy Day celebrated in 2022?

This year, the World Energy Day (WED) conference was held in Mombasa, Kenya. The talks, hosted at Sarova Whitesands Beach & Spa Resort, brought together various key players from the energy sector together. Professionals and expert speakers from around the world discussed the future of energy sustainability in Africa, seeking to empower energy independence in the continent.

During the conference, Kenya Ports Authority manager, Anderson Mtalaki, pointed out the great resource potential in the continent. From wind and solar to geothermal energy, Africa boasts a plethora of renewable energy sources waiting to be tapped into. For instance, Kenya in particular receives 81% of its energy from renewable sources, leveraging a fuel mix of solar, wind, geothermal and hydro–electric energy sources. More than this, Africa hosts the largest free trade market and a population of 1.2 billion people. This means that the continent holds great potential in terms of resources and people, offering a great opportunity for the development of the energy sector.

What did the conference seek to achieve?

The 3-day conference sought to unravel ways to make Africa self-reliant in energy. The participants looked at ways to achieve a 100% clean power grid, innovate renewable energy in rural areas of Africa and harness Kenya as a key source of geothermal energy. These topics, among others, sought to charter a path towards an entirely energy-independent Africa.

Changes are already being made in the continent. Just between 2019 and 2020, solar and wind capacity in Africa has risen by 13% and 11% respectively. Hydropower energy has skyrocketed, seeing an increase of 25%.

In turn, studies have shown that Sub-Saharan Africa could reach 67% of its energy needs within the decade. With regards to Kenya in particular, Kenyan President William Ruto stated he was determined to transition the country to 100% renewable energy sources by 2030.