Challenges

African countries have abundant energy resources, but electricity is urgently needed for people’s living and economic development. The strong dependence on fossil fuels leads to drastic effects of climate change, including drought, flooding, soil erosion etc. In addition, individuals are losing their lives and incurring economic losses from climate-related disasters every year in most African countries. Hence, there is an immediate need for a technical transfer, research and training centre in Africa to promote the development of clean energy and rural electrification for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (Affordable and clean energy), SDG 13 (Climate action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals). 

Toward a Solution

Throughout the world, there is an increasing focus on affordable and clean energy, since it mitigates climate change. In the 27th African Union Summit, held in Kigali, Rwanda in July 2016, it was concluded that the electrification programme would be put on an urgent schedule, and all member countries should become more aware of the importance to develop the great potential of clean energy, including hydropower, solar, wind and biogas, etc., so as to achieve rural electrification and sustainable development. For this purpose, the Technical Transfer, Research and Training Center on Clean Energy and Rural Electrification for Africa was set up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in May 2017 jointly with the National Research Institute for Rural Electrification, the Ministry of Water Resources of China through the Hangzhou Regional Center for Small Hydro Power (HRC), and the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU), and was supported by the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the African Union.  

The Center provides an effective platform to share expertise and experience and explore possibilities to develop affordable and clean energy.  In the context of global warming, it cooperates with governmental authorities, research institutions and universities, power companies and independent power producers of African countries.  In the near future, sub-centres in East, West, Southern and North Africa will be set up through the joint efforts of the African countries involved in order to cover more specific themes for cooperation to produce replicable solutions.  

The methodologies include technology exchange, research and development, project demonstration, talent and local development. With the joint efforts of the partners, the following activities have been initiated under the project umbrella: 

• On 12–14 May 2017, the ‘Seminar on Renewable Energy and Off-grid Power System for East African Countries’ was held to share and exchange knowledge.  More than 20 representatives from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania attended the seminar, which presented the energy situation and emerging issues, shared technical know-how and proven experience, and demonstrated practical solutions on off-grid power system etc., thus pursuing the cross-country transfer of good practice and knowledge among all East African countries for their mutual benefit, and address the common issues of power shortage, climate change and joint partnership.  
• At the end of the seminar, participants signed a cooperative resolution to enhance research and development collaboration for the long term and are encouraged to disseminate expertise and know-how to hundreds of professionals and help policymakers of their own countries to stimulate the development of renewable energy.  
• On 31 October 2017, the President of AASTU of Ethiopia visited China, and both sides discussed follow-up work and other cooperative issues of the Center. 
• From 2 to 13 May 2018, the Chinese delegation visited Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya respectively for bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation on capacity building, joint research and development, project demonstration and technical transfer etc. The visit has brought fruitful results.  
• From 20 June to 20 August 2018, a graduate student was dispatched from AASTU to China for a research study on renewable energy and hybrid power generation system. Under the guidance of Chinese supervisors, the student learned a great deal about renewable energy development in China, including the management policies, technical standards and practical experience, and completed his research paper. 
• The Director General of HRC visited Rwanda and Ethiopia from 4 to 11 August 2018 to discuss the setting up of the “Technical Transfer, Research and Training Center on Clean Energy and Rural Electrification for East Africa” and the forthcoming cooperative activities in Rwanda, as well as the management and operation of the Center in Ethiopia. 

Therefore, the Center will be sustainable and replicable, with important support from the governments of African countries and China, and potential sponsorship from the United Nations organizations especially the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. AASTU is currently providing logistic support, such as the venue and transportation, while Uganda Electricity Generation Co. Ltd., Energy Development Corporation Ltd. of Rwanda, Kenya Power & Lighting Co. Ltd. and the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association, among others, actively participated in technical exchange and talent development, among other activities, at the Center. The establishment and operation of the Center is enhancing international cooperation on infrastructure, green development, poverty reduction, as well as in the humanities among African countries.