AfDB $1m to revitalize Africa hydropower

One million US dollars!

It’s a lot of money to some and chicken feed to some.

And it represents different implications to different people, countries, projects and so on.

But for the Africa hydropower sector, it’s what the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) (https://bit.ly/3tZp0eB) managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved as a grant for the modernization of Africa’s aging hydropower fleet to fund the mapping and evaluation of African hydropower facilities’ rehabilitation needs.

It’ll also support the preparation of modernization works for two pilot facilities to a bankable stage, a move expected to add 200mw in generation capacity, create 150 jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 300 kilotons of CO2 annually.

The program will be implemented in partnership with the International Hydropower Association (IHA) (www.hydropower.org) which has participated in similar initiatives in Asia and South America.

Alex Campbell, IHA’s Head of Research and Policy, said, “We’re delighted to support the African Development Bank in this important and urgent project to modernize Africa’s hydropower fleet.”

The modernization of hydropower stations is also an opportunity to increase generation capacity at low-cost with minimal environmental impact as it’ll reduce reliance on fossil fuels and anchor larger shares of Variable Renewable Energy sources.

The modernization project is fully aligned with AfDB’s New Deal on Energy for Africa which aims to provide universal access to energy for Africans and prioritizes low-carbon technologies that harness the continent’s hydro, solar, geo-thermal and wind resources.