Breaking the Dark: The Solar Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Energy Access Challenge
Globally, over 660 million people still lack access to electricity, with a staggering 85% of them living in sub-Saharan Africa. This stark statistic highlights a pressing issue that many communities face daily.
A Story of Resilience: Washikala Malango
One such individual is Washikala Malango, who grew up in Baraka, a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) situated by a vast lake. His off-grid childhood mirrors the experiences of many in his country, where approximately 78% of the population lives without electricity. Malango’s early memories involve sharing the dim light of a kerosene lamp with his family while they enjoyed their meals.
He recalls a childhood interrupted by darkness; evenings were often spent without the option of studying or reading. “We wouldn’t even buy enough kerosene to last until 9 or 10 p.m. The night was simply dark,” Malango reflects. A harrowing incident—his mattress catching fire when a candle was left burning—highlighted the dangers of living without reliable electricity.
The Path to Entrepreneurship
In the mid-1990s, during the tumultuous Congolese civil war, Malango, along with his friend Iongwa Mashangao, fled to a refugee camp in Tanzania, where they encountered similar energy struggles. They observed how a lack of energy impacted households, health, and incomes. This fueled their passion to solve this pressing issue, leading them to establish Altech in 2013, a startup focused on providing home solar kits to off-grid communities.
“We wanted to contribute to the eradication of energy poverty in the DRC,” Malango emphasizes.
Solar Energy: A Bright Solution?
Africa, blessed with more sunshine hours than any other continent, has some of the highest levels of solar irradiance globally. Solar power is hailed as a promising solution for the millions living without electricity. Yet, as of 2024, the continent has only 21.5 gigawatts of installed solar capacity, a stark contrast to nations like China, which added 198 gigawatts in just the first five months of that year.
Barriers Holding Back Solar Expansion
So, what’s slowing down the solar revolution in Africa? Challenges vary from country to country. “In many African nations, scattered, low-density population centers make it challenging to extend national grids into rural areas,” notes Bruno Idini, an analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA).
These hurdles include high infrastructure costs, regulatory bottlenecks, and, at times, civil unrest. Moreover, the high upfront costs associated with installing large-scale solar farms can deter investment.
Initiatives and Innovations
To tackle these issues, initiatives like “Mission 300” are underway, bringing together 29 nations to pledge policy changes aimed at improving energy access. The African Development Bank’s Desert-to-Power initiative aims to provide 10 gigawatts of solar power to 11 Sahelian countries by 2030, potentially benefiting 250 million individuals. However, civil unrest in the region has hampered progress, showing the volatility of undertaking such large-scale projects.
In the meantime, accelerated investment in renewable energy solutions is underway, particularly in the private sector. While utility-scale solar energy installation still leads the market, distributed solar solutions are poised to account for 42% of solar photovoltaic expansion in the next five years.
The Role of Startups
Startups like Altech are making significant strides in the decentralized energy landscape. Their model allows customers to pay for solar kits in manageable installments rather than upfront, making it more accessible for low-income households. Given that the average daily income in the DRC is around $3.92, even small upfront payments can be unmanageable.
Altech also introduced mobile payment options in 2022 to facilitate the purchase of pay-as-you-go solar kits, which range from basic lighting systems to comprehensive setups that include appliances like televisions and cooking stoves.
Economic and Quality-of-Life Benefits
Without solar solutions, households often rely on costly kerosene canisters—not only an economic burden but also a health risk due to harmful emissions from burning fossil fuels. The most popular solar home systems provided by Altech equip families with the ability to power multiple devices with the installation of two solar panels.
The benefits are multiple: children can study at night, families can charge devices safely at home, and the risk of fires is drastically reduced. To date, Altech has reached over 2.5 million people in the DRC, significantly improving their quality of life by enhancing energy access.
Diversifying the Market
Decentralized energy solutions are now key players in the pursuit of energy equity in Africa. Independent companies and startups are also emerging across the continent, filling gaps left by national grids. For instance, M-Kopa has made waves in Kenya’s pay-as-you-go solar sector, while Izili expanded its reach into various West and Central African nations.
In the DRC, startup Nuru is focusing on solar mini grids for underserved communities and recently secured substantial funding to build what is anticipated to be the largest mini grid in sub-Saharan Africa.
Empowering Future Generations
As these off-grid energy solutions gain momentum, they provide crucial access to energy for young populations—70% of sub-Saharan Africa is under 30. This could help empower a new generation, breaking the cycle of poverty related to energy access.
As Idini aptly puts it, “You don’t have power because you cannot pay for it, but you cannot pay for it because you don’t have power.” Innovations in solar energy and entrepreneurial efforts are paving a new path, both illuminating homes and providing hope for a brighter future in sub-Saharan Africa.