2nd Regional Energy Transition Outlook for Africa Advisory Meeting

IRENA is developing Regional Energy Transition Outlook (RETOs) reports for the five African regions (Central, East, North, Southern, and West). The objective of African RETOs is to develop comprehensive quantitative scenarios for energy transformation by 2050. These scenarios aim to offer insights into potential sustainable development pathways for future energy systems on the continent, augmenting socio-economic benefits and aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. A suite of modelling tools will be used to cover energy demand and supply, power sector expansion, socio-economic objectives and impacts, policies, and investments.

The RETO programme is one of IRENA’s key engagement activities with countries, aimed at creating dialogue, promoting knowledge exchange and raising ambition towards low-carbon pathways. Central to this programme is an extensive knowledge transfer component, involving direct consultation with country and regional stakeholders.

This collaborative approach ensures local ownership of the collective effort and fosters national and regional action based on the analytical outcomes. Moreover, the set-up of technical advisory meetings allows IRENA to engage with technical experts and the scientific community with particular knowledge in developing countries, including Africa, to validate IRENA’s methodological approach and improve the technical basis of RETO analysis.

The committee held its first meeting on October 29, 2024, bringing together 11 esteemed energy modelers recognized for their expertise and in-depth knowledge of Africa. During this first meeting, IRENA presented an overview of the RETO Africa project and its methodological approach across various sectors. The team received valuable feedback and provided detailed clarifications during the meeting. Additional explanations were later shared via email for questions that required further elaboration. Committee members reaffirmed their commitment to supporting IRENA throughout the process.

It was agreed that the committee would convene on a quarterly basis, with the next session scheduled for April 14, 2025, focusing on a discussion of the preliminary analysis.