Africa shifts focus to building institutions for renewable energy scale-up
7 reported
According to a single-source report from the Associated Press, experts say Africa’s biggest clean energy challenge is shifting from building projects to building the institutions, markets and regulatory systems needed to deliver them at scale. This comes as renewables generated 34% of the world’s electricity in 2025, overtaking coal’s 33% share, and are expected to provide half of global electricity by 2030. Former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, announced a new $285 million Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative in late June to strengthen clean energy industries in emerging and developing economies. The initiative will invest in market design, regulatory capacity, technical expertise and industry institutions, rather than directly financing solar farms or wind projects. Experts cited in the report say many projects remain delayed by weak market design, limited grid planning, slow permitting processes and fragmented regulatory systems. The report notes that overcoming such obstacles is vital for securing access to power for the 600 million people in Africa who are yet to be connected.
What’s reported
Africa’s biggest clean energy challenge is shifting from building projects to building institutions, markets and regulatory systems, according to experts.
Renewables generated 34% of the world’s electricity in 2025, overtaking coal’s 33% share.
Renewables and nuclear power are expected to provide half of global electricity by 2030.
Michael R. Bloomberg announced a $285 million Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative in late June to strengthen clean energy industries in emerging and developing economies.
The initiative will invest in market design, regulatory capacity, technical expertise and industry institutions, not directly in solar or wind projects.
600 million people in Africa are yet to be connected to power.
Many projects are delayed by weak market design, limited grid planning, slow permitting processes and fragmented regulatory systems.
Key figures
Michael R. Bloomberg, former New York City Mayor and U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions
Saliem Fakir, executive director of the African Climate Foundation
Wangari Muchiri, founder and chief executive of RE.Think Energy
Sources: abcnews.com
