Since 2000, Africa has experienced a steady growth in installed wind power capacity, with annual increases surpassing 800MW in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
The peak year for installations was 2014, reaching 1,132MW of installed wind power, as reported by the GWEC in October 2023 in their publication, “The Status of Wind In Africa.”
The report not only highlights the current installed wind power projects across the continent, which exceed 1MW, but also outlines future development prospects.
What drives the motivation behind wind power projects in Africa?
The primary motivation is the need for additional capacity and energy. Wind farms play a crucial role in bolstering a country’s electricity supply, particularly in nations striving to enhance energy access and supply. Moreover, they offer the advantage of supplying renewable power.
For instance, the Lake Turkana wind farm serves as a prime example. It contributes 17% of Kenya’s installed capacity, while the Taiba N’diaye wind farm has increased Senegal’s installed capacity by 15%.
1. Supply diversification
Supply diversification is crucial across Africa’s energy landscape. While many countries heavily rely on hydropower, climate change-induced droughts and aging infrastructure pose significant challenges.
Furthermore, dependence on thermal plants like coal and natural gas brings its own set of issues, including price volatility and financing difficulties for coal projects. Enhancing supply diversity and reducing reliance on fossil fuels enhance energy mix security and resilience.
Egypt, traditionally reliant on gas, is actively transitioning towards large-scale wind and solar projects to achieve a 42% renewable energy share in its power mix by 2030.
2. Grid stabilization
Grid stabilization is achieved through the complementary nature of wind and solar energy. Daytime dips in wind are offset by solar peaks, while wind power compensates for the loss of solar energy at night.
A prime example of this synergy is the Mwenga Wind Farm in Tanzania, which operates alongside a 4MW mini-hydro plant, ensuring consistent supply even during periods of low hydrology.
3. Captive supply to industry
Industries are increasingly turning to self-supply models by installing their wind farms to meet their energy demands.
Driven by cost efficiency and the imperative to reduce carbon footprints, this trend is evident in Morocco’s cement and fertilizer sectors, as well as mining operations in Madagascar, Mali, and South Africa. As companies prioritize clean energy, cost reduction, and decarbonization, this trend is expected to persist.
Africa boasts significant potential for wind farms
The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) is spearheading the development of the Continental Power System Masterplan for the African continent, revealing a significant surge in wind power from about 4% in 2023 to a projected 23% of the electricity mix by 2040.
Presently, the focus of planning for the diversified energy mix primarily revolves around onshore wind, with offshore wind contributing a smaller portion as per the Continental Masterplan for Wind.
The power study conducted for AUDA-NEPAD, with assistance from the European Union Global Technical Assistance Facility (EU-TAF) for Sustainable Energy, has pinpointed an extensive technical potential of 3.38TW for wind power across Africa.
According to the Continental Power System for Wind Masterplan report, the continent boasts a feasible capacity of 441GW for onshore wind power, doubling the anticipated maximum wind power by 2040.
Additionally, the report highlights the unscreened technical potential for offshore wind power, estimated at 423GW.
In the future, several factors are poised to drive the installation of wind farms across Africa.
GWEC’s The Status of Wind in Africa report points out that green hydrogen, e-mobility, regional power pools, and the re-powering of wind farms will serve as key catalysts for future wind project development across the continent.
As existing wind farms in Africa near the end of their commercial and technical lifespan, and with continuous improvements in wind turbine technology, there arises a necessity to re-power these sites.
Based on the commissioning dates of identified projects, a surge in re-powering activity in Africa is anticipated between 2034 and 2038 as power plants approach the end of their contractual lifespans.
Most of the wind turbines installed in Africa before 2019 were smaller, under 2MW in size. However, today’s market offers single onshore turbines with capacities of up to 6MW.
Replacing older models with newer turbines featuring larger power ratings, enhanced resilience to environmental factors, and material upgrades could significantly boost energy production, enhance resilience to environmental conditions, reduce downtime, and lower operational costs.
Moreover, this could lead to improved cost efficiencies for off-takers, consumers, asset owners, and operators.
Since these sites are already permitted for wind farm usage, such upgrades could be swiftly implemented.
For instance, Morocco’s Kouidia Al Baida wind farm is in the process of being re-powered from 54MW to 120MW.
Similarly, Reunion’s La Perrière wind farm underwent re-powering in 2022, transitioning from a 37-turbine, 10MW facility to a nine-turbine, 18MW wind farm.