Africa could be mainly fuelled by renewable energy by 2040, a UT co-led study says – News – CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance [Μετάβαση στο περιεχόμενο](#main) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-01-CEiLnzkH.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-11-Bta7Grvo.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-08-Bbt_UM7-.svg) [ ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg)](https://civis.eu/el) - [ Ανακάλυψε ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance) - [ Τι είναι το CIVIS; ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Το έργο μας ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Αποστολή, Όραμα & Αξίες ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-institutional-journey) - [ Διακυβέρνηση & Διαχείριση ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Ποιος είναι Ποιος ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) [Ανοιχτά εργαστήρια & Συμμετοχή των πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Σπούδασε ](https://civis.eu/el/learn) - [ Μικτά Εντατικά προγράμματα ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/blended-intensive-programmes) - [ Ευέλικτη μάθηση ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/build-your-learning-path-with-our-modular-offer) - [ Μεταπτυχιακά προγράμματα ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/find-your-master-s-programme) - [ Εβδομάδες Κατάρτισης Προσωπικού & Παρακολούθηση Εργασίας ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/keep-on-learning-with-staff-weeks-andamp-job-shadowing) - [ Σπούδασε στο εξωτερικό ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/study-abroad-and-connect-with-civis-universities) [Discover the projects led by our students in 2025-2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/student-led-projects/discover-the-projects-led-by-our-students-in-2025-2026) [Μουσείο CIVIS Φόρουμ Πανεπιστημίων ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/CIVIS-Museum-University-Forum) - [ Δίδαξε ](https://civis.eu/el/teach) - [ Προσκλήσεις υποβολής προτάσεων έργων ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/civis-calls) - [ Καινοτομήστε στη διδασκαλία σας ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/innovate-your-teaching) - [ Πόροι για εκπαιδευτικούς ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/resources-for-educators) [Μικτά Εντατικά Προγράμματα CIVIS: Ισχυρός Αντίκτυπος και Υψηλά Ποσοστά Ικανοποίησης, σύμφωνα με Νέα Έκθεση ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/civis-bips-strong-impact-and-high-satisfaction-new-report-finds) [Όταν η Τέχνη Υπερβαίνει τους Τίτλους των Ειδήσεων: Το CIVIS Open Lab Επαναδιεκδικεί την Έννοια του Σπιτιού ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/when-art-speaks-louder-than-headlines-civis-open-lab-reclaims-the-meaning-of-home) - [ Κάνε έρευνα ](https://civis.eu/el/research) - [ Συνεργασία στην έρευνα ](https://civis.eu/el/research/research-collaboration) - [ Σταδιοδρομία, Δίκτυα & Κινητικότητα ](https://civis.eu/el/research/research-careers-networks-and-projects) - [ Πόροι για ερευνητές ](https://civis.eu/el/research/resources-for-researchers) [Είμαι ακαδημαϊκός/ερευνητής/-τρια ](https://civis.eu/el/i-am-an-academic-researcher) [Αντιμέτωποι με Κοινές Προκλήσεις, Διαμορφώνοντας Κοινές Λύσεις για την Αφρική και την Ευρώπη ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/facing-common-challenges-shaping-joint-solutions-for-africa-and-europe) - [ Συνδέσου ](https://civis.eu/el/connect) - [ Ενημερωτικά Δελτία ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/newsletters) - [ Ημέρες CIVIS ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/civis-days) - [ Κοινωνία των Πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Επικοινωνήστε μαζί μας ](https://civis.eu/el/contact) - [ Τύπος και Επωνυμία ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) [Ποιος είναι Ποιος ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) [Fake It Till You News It: Challenges and Solutions in Modern Media Student Innovation Forum ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/student-led-projects/discover-the-projects-led-by-our-students-in-2025-2026/civis-creathon-contest) [ Ιστορίες ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) el - [ en ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ de ](https://civis.eu/de/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ fr ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ it ](https://civis.eu/it/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ es ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ sv ](https://civis.eu/sv/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ ro ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) Menu - [Ανακάλυψε](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-29) - [ Τι είναι το CIVIS; ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Το έργο μας ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Αποστολή, Όραμα & Αξίες ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-institutional-journey) - [ Διακυβέρνηση & Διαχείριση ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Ποιος είναι Ποιος ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) - [Σπούδασε](https://civis.eu/el/learn) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-30) - [ Μικτά Εντατικά προγράμματα ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/blended-intensive-programmes) - [ Ευέλικτη μάθηση ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/build-your-learning-path-with-our-modular-offer) - [ Μεταπτυχιακά προγράμματα ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/find-your-master-s-programme) - [ Εβδομάδες Κατάρτισης Προσωπικού & Παρακολούθηση Εργασίας ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/keep-on-learning-with-staff-weeks-andamp-job-shadowing) - [ Σπούδασε στο εξωτερικό ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/study-abroad-and-connect-with-civis-universities) - [Δίδαξε](https://civis.eu/el/teach) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-31) - [ Προσκλήσεις υποβολής προτάσεων έργων ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/civis-calls) - [ Καινοτομήστε στη διδασκαλία σας ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/innovate-your-teaching) - [ Πόροι για εκπαιδευτικούς ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/resources-for-educators) - [Κάνε έρευνα](https://civis.eu/el/research) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-32) - [ Συνεργασία στην έρευνα ](https://civis.eu/el/research/research-collaboration) - [ Σταδιοδρομία, Δίκτυα & Κινητικότητα ](https://civis.eu/el/research/research-careers-networks-and-projects) - [ Πόροι για ερευνητές ](https://civis.eu/el/research/resources-for-researchers) - [Συνδέσου](https://civis.eu/el/connect) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-33) - [ Ενημερωτικά Δελτία ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/newsletters) - [ Ημέρες CIVIS ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/civis-days) - [ Κοινωνία των Πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Επικοινωνήστε μαζί μας ](https://civis.eu/el/contact) - [ Τύπος και Επωνυμία ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) [ Ιστορίες ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) el - [ en ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ de ](https://civis.eu/de/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ fr ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ it ](https://civis.eu/it/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ es ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ sv ](https://civis.eu/sv/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) - [ ro ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/africa-s-chance-for-green-electricity) 1. [The CIVIS Newsroom ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) 2. Africa could be mainly fuelled by renewable energy by 2040, a UT co-led study says Africa could be mainly fuelled by renewable energy by 2040, a UT co-led study says ==================================================================================== CIVIS Highlights 12 Φεβρουαρίου 2024 A joint study by the University of Tübingen, the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, the University of Osnabrück and the University of Rwanda has found that 80 percent of the energy required in Africa could come from renewable sources by 2040, if the capacity of existing power plants were fully utilized and all the plants currently on the drawing-board were built. ![](/storage/files/energy-africa-c-repp-africa-database.jpg) Energy in Africa © RePP Africa Database The international study has been published in the journal [Nature Reviews Earth & Environment](https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-023-00501-1): > *There is enough sun, wind and water on the continent. Many African countries could skip the age of fossil fuels. But of course, a few things would have to be done to achieve that,"* says **Rebecca Peters**, doctoral scientist in the Geosciences Department at the University of Tübingen and lead author of the study. Under the supervision of Professor Christiane Zarfl and partners in Germany and Rwanda, Peters compiled all available data on renewable energies power plants in Africa in a comprehensive database; then she evaluated the relevant scientific studies on the subject. Africa’s chance for green electricity ------------------------------------- Sharply falling production costs for solar and wind energy are making possible a major expansion of renewable energies in Africa. However, the continent's energy requirements are expected to increase considerably in the coming decades. Two-thirds of the population currently has no access to electricity and the current population growth of 2.6 percent in sub-Saharan Africa is higher than in other parts of the world. [Solar and wind power plants ](https://www.repp.geo.uni-tuebingen.de/)can be operated decentrally and in local grids without being connected to overhead power lines; the authors point out that this is one of the advantages of renewable energy sources. By this analysis, a large-scale expansion of the electricity grid to rural areas would be expensive and unnecessary. And there is further potential for higher energy production in Africa in the smooth operation of existing power plants, lower energy losses during electricity transmission and a suitable combination of different forms of energy to compensate for fluctuations in solar and wind energy production. A long way to go ---------------- “*We are, however, skeptical about the unchecked expansion of hydroelectricity,"* explains Professor Dr. Klement Tockner, Director General of the Senckenberg Nature Research Society. Tockner is an aquatic ecologist and co-author of the study: > *Although Africa is the continent with the world's least exploited reserves of this form of energy and hydropower currently accounts for 63 percent of renewable energy production, a great expansion of dams and lakes would irreversibly change the currently free-flowing rivers and would also force many residents to relocate,”* he says. The sustainable scenario for universal access to renewable electricity in Africa requires that countries heavily dependent on coal - such as South Africa, or gas - such as Algeria, Tunisia and Libya - give up future expansion of coal and gas-fired power plants and transition to clean energy generation. "*Structural change is only possible by doubling current investments by 2030 and investing an additional 30 billion dollars a year to ensure access to electricity for all*," says Dr. Jürgen Berlekamp from the Institute of Environmental Systems Research at the University of Osnabrück. Investments from abroad would be needed, he added. Since the noughties, China has played an increasingly important role alongside the USA and European countries. **The full, [original, story in German](https://uni-tuebingen.de/universitaet/aktuelles-und-publikationen/pressemitteilungen/newsfullview-pressemitteilungen/article/afrikas-chance-auf-gruenen-strom/) is available on the University of Tübingen's website.** Related news ------------ - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/wildcat-800x600.jpg?token=feab63e2e638099acac5ba09fdaf86b2)Human activity is influencing the behavior of Germany’s wildcats CIVIS Highlights 16 Μαρτίου 2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/human-activity-is-influencing-the-behavior-of-germany-s-wildcats) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/litter2-simontaal-800x600.jpg?token=0e55d70613b6069956c6e9518fb72207)Litter in the Rhine River: some 53,000 items of litter flow past Cologne daily CIVIS Highlights 4 Φεβρουαρίου 2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/litter-in-the-rhine-river-some-53-000-items-of-litter-flow-past-cologne-daily) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/leaves-c-jeff-jones-800x600.jpg?token=d97ad4cdece1a3cd2e97d109ebef9b31)Pathogen hijacks fruit ripening programme in citrus plants CIVIS Highlights 12 Ιανουαρίου 2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/pathogen-hijacks-fruit-ripening-program-in-citrus-plants) [Ανακαλύψτε όλες μας τις ιστορίες](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) [ Sustainable renovation of the Lubumbashi University Clinics proposed by ULB-UNILU students ](< https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/ulb-unilu-student-microproject-a-sustainable-renovation-of-the-lubumbashi-university-clinics >) [ Sapienza invites the CIVIS community to turn off the lights on National Day for Energy Saving and Sustainable Lifestyles ](< https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/sapienza-invites-the-civis-community-to-turn-off-the-lights-on-national-day-for-energy-saving-and-sustainable-lifestyles >) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither can be held responsible for them. ### Άνθρωποι - [ Φοιτητές-/τριες ](https://civis.eu/el/i-am-a-student) - [ Ακαδημαϊκοί και ερευνητές ](https://civis.eu/el/i-am-an-academic-researcher) - [ Διοικητικοί ](https://civis.eu/el/i-am-an-administrator) - [ Κοινωνία των πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Τύπος ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) ### Χρήσιμοι σύνδεσμοι - [ Πόροι ](https://civis.eu/el/resources) - [ Πλατφόρμα CIVIS Agora ](https://civis.eu/el/civis-agora-the-operational-hub-of-the-civis-digital-campus) - [ Πρωτοβουλία των Ευρωπαϊκών Πανεπιστημίων ](https://civis.eu/el/european-universities-initiative) - [ Προηγούμενες εκδηλώσεις ](https://civis.eu/el/past-events) - [ Επικοινωνία ](https://civis.eu/el/contact) [Newsletters](https://civis.eu/el/connect/newsletters) ### Social networks - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/instagram.svg) Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/civis.eu/) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/linkedin.svg) LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/civis-eu) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/facebook.svg) Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/CIVISEuropeanUniversity/) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/youtube.svg) YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCm0FfreX81BuNH-znlRGQ) © 2026 – CIVIS – All rights reserved - [ Cookie Policy ](https://civis.eu/el/cookie-policy) - [ Privacy policy ](https://civis.eu/el/privacy-policy) Website by [Typi Design](https://typi.be) • Design by [Atelier Milky](https://ateliermilky.com) [ ](#top) Search