The road to ending energy poverty in SSA

With unemployment hovering at stubborn percentage points in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, job creation continues to remain among the hot topics. Just what opportunities for jobs lie within the renewable energy sector and what will be ideal solutions to fast tracking the process of rolling back energy poverty and address infrastructural challenges that continue to lead to blackouts across different African economies? Kristina Skierka, Founder and CEO, Power for All. She speaks to CNBC Africa’s Eugene Anangwe for more.

Thu, 19 May 2022 10:08:48 GMT

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AI Generated Summary

Renewable energy provides better job opportunities for a diverse range of people, especially women, and has proven to be resilient amidst crises like the pandemic.
Partnerships between centralized utilities and decentralized renewables are key in increasing energy access and improving system performance, as demonstrated by initiatives like Utilities 2.0 in Uganda.
Building an ecosystem involving various sectors including universities, public institutions, private companies, and NGOs is essential to accelerating the path towards universal energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the issue of job creation and energy poverty continues to be at the forefront of discussions as the region grapples with high unemployment rates and infrastructural challenges that lead to frequent blackouts. CNBC Africa's Eugene Anangwe sat down with Kristina Skierka, Founder and CEO of Power for All, to delve into the opportunities within the renewable energy sector and how it can help combat energy poverty in the region. Power for All is a global campaign focused on ending energy poverty through decentralized renewable energy solutions such as mini-grids and rooftop solar systems. Skierka highlights that renewable energy provides better job opportunities for a diverse range of people, especially women, with statistics showing that nearly a third of jobs in the decentralized renewable sector go to women. Moreover, the sector has proven to be resilient, maintaining employment numbers even during the pandemic crisis. As the world looks towards recovery post-pandemic, Skierka emphasizes the role of renewable energy in building resilience, as energy access remains a crucial need during crises. The pay-as-you-go funding model for rooftop solar systems has transformed energy access, offering a reliable solution for future pandemics. Skierka also addresses the traditional utility wars, advocating for partnerships between centralized utilities and decentralized renewables. Power for All has launched the Utilities 2.0 initiative in Uganda, demonstrating the benefits of collaboration in rapidly increasing energy access and improving overall system performance. Skierka stresses the importance of partnerships with various sectors, including universities, public institutions, private companies, and NGOs, in building an ecosystem to accelerate energy access. She envisions a future where the upcoming generation views renewables as the primary source of energy, highlighting the need for a collective effort to drive the transition towards universal energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa.