The International Energy Agency (IEA) has projected that renewable energy will surpass coal to become the world’s leading source of electricity by 2026.
According to the agency’s latest forecast, this transition is being driven by solar and wind that are growing faster than any other power sources, driven by falling technology costs, government policies, and rising public demand for climate action.
The IEA says the global shift provides Africa with leverage. The continent holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources but currently attracts less than 3% of renewable energy investment.
Analysts argue the transition is about more than energy supply as it is also about justice. For decades, coal powered industries in the Global North while Africa endured the worst climate impacts. With renewables on the rise, Africa has a chance to lead the transition and expand access to reliable electricity.
Initiatives such as the African Union’s Africa Single Electricity Market aim to connect regional grids, allowing power to flow across borders from areas with the strongest sun or wind to where demand is highest.
Unlike Europe, North America, or Asia, where governments face the costly challenge of shutting down old coal plants, Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog directly into clean energy.
Kenya is already among the global leaders, with over 80% of its electricity coming from renewables. The country’s power mix includes hydro projects, geothermal generation in Olkaria, the Lake Turkana Wind Power project, and solar farms in Garissa, Makueni, and Turkana. This shift has strengthened Kenya’s resilience.
Other African nations are also advancing renewable projects. Morocco is building one of the world’s largest solar complexes in the Sahara, Egypt is investing in green hydrogen, and Ethiopia is expanding hydro and wind generation.
Still, challenges remain. South Africa continues to depend heavily on coal, while Nigeria struggles with unreliable electricity supply despite vast solar potential. Experts say the continent’s biggest hurdle is not generation but infrastructure such as expanding transmission lines, energy storage, and local grids.
