Trymore Tagwirei.

A landmark report from Power Shift Africa paints a transformative vision for the continent: a complete shift to renewable energy by 2050 could unlock up to US$5 trillion in savings, expand energy capacity more than fortyfold, and create over 5 million clean energy jobs.

The report, issued by Power Shift Africa, a Kenyan climate and energy think tank, argues that this green transition is not just an environmental imperative but a profound economic opportunity.

The study shows that building a fully renewable energy system would cost significantly less than continuing with fossil fuels.

While the ambitious transformation requires a significant investment of US$7.3 trillion in renewable infrastructure, the study calculates that it would generate US$8.3 trillion in direct fuel savings alone.

Crucially, it would also avoid an estimated US$22 trillion in costs related to fossil fuel dependency, making the transition vastly more affordable than maintaining the status quo.

The findings project a staggering increase in energy generation, soaring from 80 gigawatts (80 GW) in 2023 to a projected 3,500 GW by 2050, powered primarily by the continent’s abundant and largely untapped solar and wind resources.

This energy revolution would also reshape the job market.

“The shift to clean energy would not only reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports, which trap the continent in debt cycles, but also create millions more jobs.

“A 100% renewable pathway would support 5.4 million energy jobs by 2050, compared to just 3.2 million under the current fossil fuel-dependent scenario,” the report states.

A core recommendation is the adoption of decentralized renewable systems. These are seen as a vital and rapidly deployable tool to address the estimated 600 million Africans currently living without electricity and the 720 million residing more than 10 kilometers from a power grid.

To finance this monumental shift, Power Shift Africa urges the adoption of measures including Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), substantial debt relief for African nations, and compensation through the Loss and Damage fund.

The report concludes that with the continent contributing only 3 percent of global emissions, Africa holds the moral high ground to champion this change. By leveraging its immense renewable potential, the continent can not only secure its own energy future but also lead the global clean energy revolution.