The transport sector typically accounts, depending on the country, for about 25% of global energy-related co2emissions.
Although Africa has the lowest motorisation rate in the world, the continent has a wealth of opportunities that could make it a major player in the transport sector with the potential to become a leader in reducing carbon emissions from transport.
However, to get there, Africa’s transport sector must face up to current challenges and reinvent itself. justifierBelow is an example of the challenges in decarbonising transport in Africa:
In Aviation and long-distance shipping,
a. These are quite hard to abate sectors, i.e. it is very difficult to reduce emissions at present, as they still rely heavily on jet fuel, diesel and bunker fuels.
b. The challenge will be to ensure that there are adequate places to store and supply alternative green fuels (e.g. renewable methanol) like building port terminals to be ready to supply these fuels.
In the rail sector,
a. It is a low emission sector in terms of the amount of freight transported by rail worldwide and is one of the most energy-efficient and least carbon-intensive modes of transport. It is still largely powered by diesel, particularly for freight.
b. The challenge in emerging markets, particularly in Africa, is to provide electrified passenger trains, as they are extremely expensive to implement.
c. Having a dense network of people over a long distance and some sort of power grid capable of providing electricity over the entire range of the passenger or freight rail system is another challenge.
In the road sector
a. There are many more opportunities in terms of road vehicles in Africa, as the electrification of many types of road vehicles is really considered the way forward for decarbonisation on a global scale.
b. Solutions are well known as the technology exists now to electrify almost all types of road vehicles (two to three wheelers or motorbikes and smaller cars, smaller trucks and electric buses).
c. However, the total cost of ownership of electric vehicles (the price of the vehicle + all maintenance + operating + charging costs over the life of the vehicle) can be a burden in Africa. The challenge is therefore often, and particularly on the continent, an economic one, as the initial cost really deters people from buying vehicles.
