In a significant stride towards harnessing Africa’s abundant renewable energy resources, CAP-A, in collaboration with Dalberg Research, has launched the beta version of their Energy Dashboard – a new online interactive energy platform. This dashboard provides detailed information on solar and wind energy potential across the continent, offering valuable insights for stakeholders in various sectors and facilitating decision-making and planning for green industry.
The dashboard uses world-class data from, amongst others, the Global Wind Atlas and Global Solar Atlas, and combines this with land use and current power production. This allows us to exclude protected areas, built-up environment or otherwise unsuitable areas, to provide a very granular (1×1 km) perspective, and to compare the untapped renewable potential to current electricity production to provide a perspective on energy transition and growth potential. The dashboard is a practical tool to identify potential locations for solar and wind energy generation. It simplifies complex data and presents it in an accessible format – empowering users to explore Africa’s renewable energy potential with ease.
At its core, CAP-A aims for the dashboard to be a catalyst for unlocking Africa’s potential as a hub for economically viable solutions to the global climate challenge – also known as Climate Positive Growth (CPG). It can equip project developers, investors, and policymakers with data to inform early decision-making towards CPG on the continent. From renewable energy-powered industrial manufacturing to engineered carbon removal, the possibilities for green innovation are vast and now stakeholders can see where to start. Besides quantifying potential energy output in 1x1km pixel areas across the continent and at a national level, the dashboard also provides downloadable country maps indicating where renewable energy is feasible.
As a public benefit organisation, CAP-A wants the Energy Dashboard to extend beyond individual projects and realise systemic change for Africa and the world. It can lay the groundwork for a sustainable and resilient Africa, and support the global green transition needing clean energy sources. This, in turn, can drive job creation, foster technological innovation, and enhance Africa’s global competitiveness in the green industry sector.
You can explore the dashboard here!
