Scaling up renewables in Africa

Pledging for affordable energy and reducing poverty

At COP28, in 2023, world leaders committed to tripling global renewable energy capacity by the end of this decade to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner, more sustainable energy. Urgent action is needed to meet these targets.

Africa holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources, offering a significant opportunity for renewable energy. Despite this, the continent attracts only 3% of global energy investment, and some 600 million people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, still lack access to electricity.

On the eve of the G20 summit on 17 November 2024, the European Commission and the Republic of South Africa together with Global Citizen have launched a year-long 'Scaling up Renewables in Africa' pledging campaign. It is mobilising public and private investments to accelerate renewable energy projects across and help people of Africa have access to affordable energy and help cut global emissions.

In March 2025, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga announced their intent to align the 'Scaling Up Renewables in Africa' campaign with 'Mission 300'. 'Mission 300' is an initiative of, the World Bank Group and African Development Bank, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, including generation, transmission, distribution and clean cooking.

Governments, development finance institutions and private sector are encouraged to pledge financial or in-kind resources to projects that align with the campaign objectives. Eligible commitments include initiatives in areas of renewable energy access, renewable power generation, investments in grids and storage in the whole or part of Africa. All pledges should be time bound, measurable, and additional to existing plans. 

Support to Africa through Global Gateway

The campaign builds on the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package, which supports Africa with €150 billion worth of investments. Global Gateway projects focus on accelerating the green and digital transition, creating sustainable growth and jobs, as well as supporting health systems and improving education and training.

For instance, the Team Europe 'Africa-Europe Green Energy Initiative' aims at ensuring the deployment of at least 50 GW of new renewable electricity generation capacity and providing at least 100 million people in Africa with access to electricity, by 2030.

The cooperation between 'Scaling Up Renewables in Africa' campaign and the 'Mission 300' builds upon successful cooperation between the European Commission and the World Bank Group in Africa.

Joint projects include:

• Cameroon – Team Europe and the World Bank have been jointly supporting the construction of Nachtigal, a 420 MV hydropower plant and dam, which will increase the electricity supply in the country by 30%. It also supports a rural electrification aiming at improving the access to energy of more than 558 rural localities throughout the territory.
• Zambia and Zimbabwe – rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam to increase the reliability of supply and clean energy to both countries, providing 2,130 MV of power generation capacity, with the potential to produce over 10,000 GWh of clean, renewable energy annually.
• Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya – linking the Southern and Easter Arica Power Pools through an interconnector, to enhance regional integration and foster economic development through electricity trade. This will also enhance security and reliability of electricity supply, while reducing the vulnerability to hydrological risks.

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