Publication launch: Planning and prospects for renewable power: Central Africa
In partnership with the Central African Power Pool (CAPP), IRENA implemented a Regional Africa Modelling Analysis & Planning Support Programme for Central Africa in 2020-23. The Programme delivered over 220 hours of practical training and insights to 70 technical planning experts of national energy institutions in the region on how to develop national and regional generation capacity expansion scenarios to inform the energy planning process. The implementation of the programme was closely integrated with the development of the African Continental Power Systems Master Plan (CMP), which is led by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) with key financial support from the European Union (EU), and which IRENA is supporting as a modelling partner.
The outcome of this programme has been enhanced energy planning capacity for CAPP member state planning authorities, and a foundation of transparent power sector data and scenarios for long-term infrastructure development, owned by local stakeholders.
To build on the work of the IRENA-CAPP Regional Modelling Analysis & Planning Support Programme, IRENA has published the report Planning and prospects for renewable power: Central Africa, which performs a consolidated regional analysis of potential scenarios for long-term power sector development in Central Africa. This event, held during the 15th IRENA Assembly, marked the launch of the report by presenting the high-level outcomes of the CAPP support programme and highlights of the regional analysis to country decision makers, key African institutions, and major international partners.
Both the capacity built in the IRENA-CAPP programme and the report are seen as essential inputs as the region embarks on the development of its first official regional power sector masterplan next year.