Africa is embarking on an exciting path toward a sustainable energy future. The growing continent has unprecedented opportunities to harness its abundant resources, but it will need to confront some key climate obstacles in the process. In 2025, Africa is one of the center stage actors in the global energy transition. Researchers have found enormous geological CO₂ storage capacity in deep saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs around the entire continent. Yet for all these benefits, the continent’s potential continues to be stunted by a lack of infrastructure and patchy policy backing.
At present, Africa has nine CCUS projects in total with eight of them at early stages of development. From Reconnecting America’s Smart Growth America Comeback 1,2 is the idea that innovative problem solving and creativity are needed to bring down carbon emissions. Africa is already in a strong second place for active and announced low-carbon hydrogen capacity after Asia. With a total maximum capacity of 16 million tons per annum (mtpa) it is quite the juggernaut. Yet active utilization of this capacity is under 0.1%, revealing a massive chasm between what could be achieved and what exists in practice.
Renewable energy sources accounted for just 25% of Africa’s total power generation mix in 2025. Yet experts predict this share will more than double to 46% by 2035. Africa has much to be hopeful for, but perils lie on the road ahead. By 2035, the continent won’t even be halfway there, in terms of installed renewable capacity or power generation. With nine renewable refineries currently in the continental pipeline, that’s a start. This highlights the deep, hard work it will take to realize Africa’s renewable energy dreams.
Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) market is booming! Sales this year have exploded, more than doubling over 2023’s levels to a projected 11,000 units. However, despite huge progress, EV adoption is still low and very uneven across the continent. Affordability constraints and weak charging infrastructure are holding adoption back. The lack of strong policy support makes it even more difficult to take them up widely.
Ethiopia stands out as one of the most inspiring examples of Africa’s renewable energy revival. It’s on course to reach and maintain 100% renewable electricity by 2035. This goal, while ambitious, highlights the desire and ability of African nations to be leaders in renewable energy innovation. Despite these commitments, Africa’s low-carbon hydrogen ambitions are mostly export-oriented and policy-driven, pointing to the lack of a more robust domestic narrative.
In fact, Africa’s emissions have continuously increased with a CAGR of 2% between 2000 and 2024. By 2024, they’ll have reached 1.5 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e). As of 2025, Africa accounted for just 2% of the global energy storage capacity. This shows the immense potential for growth. Energy storage will slowly build momentum, but remains heavily focused in a few major markets.