Solar power panels. Photo by: PublicDomainPictures.net
Solar power panels. Photo by: PublicDomainPictures.net

George Airport in South Africa Transfers to Solar Power

Areas of Africa will soon be approaching the tipping point at which solar power will be cheaper and more affordable in comparison to fossil fuels.

In a recent report, UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that Africa will be tripling its electricity demand by 2030. As the cost for renewable energy continues to decrease with the increase of demand and advancements in solar cell technology, the expansion of renewable in developing areas continues to increase.

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“The surprising find is that the wind and solar resources in Africa are absolutely gigantic, and something you could tap into for relatively low cost.” – senior author Duncan Callaway, a UC Berkeley associate professor of energy and resources and a faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab

The report displays areas of Africa that would have the highest rate of productivity. Their data shows that Namibia has the highest amount of sunshine for solar energy. They also found that areas of South Africa would work best for Wind Energy.

In addition, Callaway notes that ‘Hydroelectric power is the main power source for one-third of African nations, but it is not available in all countries, and climate change makes it an uncertain resource because of more frequent droughts.’

As more companies move to add solar power as an option in some areas, they will expand, finds ways to transfer energy, and continue to help create a more sustainable future.

Watch over YouTube videos covering the development of solar energy in Africa.

Why solar power is spreading so fast in Africa

Solar panels prop up South Africa's electricity grid