Abundant rainfall, massive gorges, enormous waterfalls: the geography of Africa has all the elements for producing electricity from river flow. For decades, many African countries have relied on hydropower for electricity generation, including projects that inspire as much awe as controversy. One only needs to think of Ghana's Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world; the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Ethiopia's flagship project to provide millions of its citizens with electricity access; or DR Congo's dream of building the Grand Inga plant, which some claim could "light up all of Africa". And the voices which advocate for more of the same are strong: it is estimated that Africa has barely exploited 10% of its hydropower potential.
But is it a smart idea to plan for hundreds of new hydro dams across Africa? A new study from scientists in Italy, Austria, Ethiopia, and Belgium shows that this may not be the case. The study used a detailed energy model to investigate which combination of power sources would be most cost-effective for African countries to meet their rising demand until 2050-comparing hydropower to solar, wind, coal, natural gas, nuclear, and others. With unprecedented detail, the study individually considered every possible future hydropower plant in Africa-with its own storage size, river flow profile, and interplay with other hydropower dams.
"What is unique about our study is that we model every single hydropower plant in Africa individually-both existing ones and future candidates," explains Dr. Angelo Carlino, lead author of the study. "This way, our model can pinpoint which plants could be a smart investment and which ones should probably not be built."
Adding up all the numbers provides a sobering picture of the future of hydropower in Africa. The study found that up to 67% of possible future hydropower plants in Africa may not be worth the investment. This is mainly because hydropower will soon largely become unable to compete economically with solar and (to a lesser extent) wind power, whose costs have dropped at unprecedented rates in the last decade.
In addition, the effects of prolonged droughts on hydropower, likely to worsen due to climate change, would have to be mitigated through additional investments. "This is another reason why solar power will emerge as the more attractive technology in the long term," says Dr. Matthias Wildemeersch, a research scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and co-author of the study.
Does this mean that it is "game over" for hydropower? Not entirely, as the study explains: in the short-term, some new hydropower plants could still provide cheap power for countries in need, and they could also be used flexibly to help the integration of solar and wind, whose output constantly fluctuates.
"Our model shows which specific hydropower plants would still be cost-effective in the short-term," comments Professor Andrea Castelletti, professor in Natural Resources Management at Politecnico di Milano and senior author of the study. "Especially in the Congo, Niger, and Nile basins, there are certain projects that would be worth the effort, as long as they are well-planned and harmful environmental effects are kept to a minimum."
But in the long-term, solar power would emerge as crystal-clear technology to be favored by most African countries, echoing the International Energy Agency's 2020 claim that solar power would soon become the new "king" of electricity markets worldwide.
"The window for hy
dropower in Africa to be a feasible investment is very rapidly closing," adds Professor Sebastian Sterl, professor in Energy Meteorology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium, and senior scientist at the World Resources Institute (WRI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study suggests that beyond 2030, only a very limited number of hydropower plants would remain attractive investments across Africa. "Aside from cost-effectiveness, this is generally good news for the environment: it means that many rivers won't have to be dammed and can keep their natural course," concludes Sterl.
Research Report:Declining cost of renewables and climate change curb the need for African hydropower expansion
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst:
8/10
The article provides an in-depth analysis of the potential future of hydropower in Africa and looks at the economic implications of such projects from a defense industry perspective. It also looks at the potential impact of hydropower projects in Africa from a geopolitical viewpoint, and how they could be used to promote regional stability and security. Furthermore, the article highlights the potential for hydropower projects to benefit African countries by providing electricity access to millions of citizens.
Stock Market Analyst:
6/10
The article provides an overview of the potential for hydropower in Africa, and the economic implications of investing in such projects from a stock market perspective. It looks at the potential for hydropower projects to benefit African countries by providing electricity access to millions of citizens, and the potential for investors to benefit from such projects. However, the article fails to provide any direct insights into how stock investors might benefit from such projects, making it of limited relevance to stock market analysts.
General Industry Analyst:
7/10
The article provides a detailed overview of the potential for hydropower in Africa, and the economic implications of investing in such projects from a general industry perspective. It looks at the potential for hydropower projects to benefit African countries by providing electricity access to millions of citizens, and examines the potential impact of hydropower projects on a regional and global scale. Furthermore, the article looks at the potential for such projects to promote regional stability and security.
Analyst Summary
:
This article provides an in-depth analysis of the potential for hydropower in Africa and its potential economic and geopolitical implications. It looks at the potential for hydropower projects to benefit African countries by providing electricity access to millions of citizens, as well as the potential for such projects to promote regional stability and security. However, the study also found that up to 67 percent of possible future hydropower plants in Africa may not be worth the investment, suggesting that hydropower may not be the most cost-effective solution for meeting the rising demand for electricity in Africa.
The article highlights the potential for hydropower projects to benefit African countries, but also provides an important warning about the potential economic implications of investing in such projects. This is particularly relevant in light of recent developments in the space and defense industry, such as the increased focus on renewable energy sources, and the heightened geopolitical tensions related to the security of energy infrastructure.
Investigative
Question:
- 1. What are the potential impacts of investing in hydropower projects in Africa on regional and global security?
- 2. How can African countries ensure that hydropower projects are cost-effective and financially viable?
- 3.
What other renewable energy sources could be used to meet the rising demand for electricity in Africa?4. What are the potential implications of the study’s findings for investors in the stock market?
5. How can African countries work together to develop hydropower projects that are beneficial to the region as a whole?
This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.
