Rockefeller Foundation's Green Power Gap Report: Urgent Need for Clean Energy
The Rockefeller Foundation has unveiled a groundbreaking report highlighting an urgent “Green Power Gap” of 8,700 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable energy that must be generated by 2050 across 72 countries. This report underscores the critical necessity for these nations, predominantly in Africa and Asia, to transition from traditional, inefficient power systems to sustainable energy solutions to meet global development and climate objectives.
The report, titled “Green Power Gap: Achieving an Energy Abundant Future for Everyone,” identifies 44 African nations and 20 Asian countries among those needing to bridge this substantial energy shortfall. The analysis categorizes these countries based on their energy poverty, defined by an average annual per capita electricity usage of less than 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is essential for lifting populations out of poverty, fostering job creation, and driving economic development. The remaining nations are located in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, emphasized the high stakes involved, noting that the well-being of 3.8 billion people and the planet hinges on bridging this energy gap. He called for scalable solutions and the mobilization of capital to provide clean electricity to billions, which is essential for improving lives and livelihoods while achieving climate goals.
The report further explores the potential for fossil fuel usage in the short term, but it emphasizes the critical need for a swift transition to renewable energy sources. By 2030, it predicts that two-thirds of the power generation in these energy-poor countries may still rely on fossil fuels, but this share must drop to 30% by 2040, aiming for net zero by 2070.
To close the Green Power Gap, the report outlines four distinct pathways tailored to the unique needs and resources of each country:
Gradual Grid Greening: Suitable for countries with established grids and centralized fossil fuel generation, like India. Mixed Grid Renewable Evolution: Appropriate for nations with limited grid capacity but higher population density, such as Nigeria. Decentralized Solar Storage: Ideal for countries with excellent solar resources but limited grid development, like Burkina Faso. Decentralized Renewable Mix: Best for countries with diverse, high-quality renewable resources but limited grid assets, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
William Asiko, Vice President of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office, highlighted the unique opportunities for Africa to leverage its superior renewable energy resources to develop flexible and reliable systems. The report also acknowledges significant commitments, such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank’s pledge to electrify 300 million Africans by 2030, which aligns with the ambitious targets outlined.
Dr. Joseph Curtin, co-author of the report, emphasized the strategic advantage for these 72 countries to leapfrog to cleaner and more adaptable power systems, leveraging their abundant renewable resources. The Rockefeller Foundation aims to delve deeper into these divergent pathways in future analyses, continuing to drive the global agenda for energy abundance and climate resilience.