Energy is central to economic development and poverty reduction in Africa. Energy planning will be critical for the future development of the sector but planning in many poor countries is inadequate. How can donor-funded research improve energy planning in sub-Saharan Africa?

A research scoping study undertaken by a consortium of two UK and three African organisations for the UK Department for International Development (DFID) examines energy planning in developing countries. The study recommends key areas for investigation in a future DFID-funded research programme on energy planning in Africa.

The energy sector is broad and complex. The study reviews the current thinking and research on energy security, energy access and climate change in developing countries. Crucially, the study also looks at how these three issues interact, and the available research on how medium to long-term energy plans should manage trade-offs and promote benefits. It also identifies knowledge gaps – for instance, the report highlights that little work has been undertaken to assess how decreasing security of supply will affect developing countries and measures to reduce the effects.

The study also explores the interactions that occur in developing countries and regions which, to some extent, represent the variability of energy infrastructure and planning in South Africa, Kenya and the Southern African Development Community. In each area, existing energy planning processes and institutions were analysed, and the views of stakeholders (policymakers, energy suppliers, private sector groups, donors, non-governmental organisations and academics) were collected.

In the three areas studied, the study finds that energy security and energy access are most important for medium to long-term energy planning, and integrated energy planning is essential for the medium and long-term development. In some cases, there are processes and institutions in place to enable this planning but these are often dictated to, and overridden by, short-term considerations in response to immediate energy supply needs. The study also found that:

• Long-term energy planning is considered important, particularly for the electricity sector.
• Access to energy is seen as important for increasing economic growth and raising living standards.
• Climate change is given low priority, although some respondents recognise the need to assess its impact on existing and future energy sources in Africa.
• There is a lack of consistency between energy plans and energy policy and investment.
• Lack of staff, skills and data are barriers to energy planning in the areas studied.
• Different perspectives (consumers, civil society groups and non-governmental organisations) are not consistently included in energy planning.

The study identifies key research themes that need to be addressed, and suggests possible programme structures and partners to support this:

• the development of appropriate frameworks for medium and long-term energy planning
• specific technical areas such as hydro-power, biofuels and traditional biomass
• better regulations and policy, including ensuring that policy connects with planning and investment decisions
• support for existing energy planning institutions and structures (in areas such as skills development, data collection and modelling tools)
• support to regional energy planning in sub-Saharan Africa
• gaps in academic knowledge (such as how to adapt existing energy models to the developing country context).

Source(s):
‘Energy Planning in sub-Saharan Africa – Facing the Challenges of Equitable Access, Secure Supply and Climate Change’, Report presented to DFID by Energy for Sustainable Development Limited, the Environmental Change Institute Oxford, CEEEZ, ESDA and PDG, 2007 (PDF) Full document.
Annexes to the report (PDF) Full document.

Funded by: UK Department for International Development

id21 Research Highlight: 25 February 2008

Further Information:
Energy for Sustainable Development Limited
Overmoor
Neston, Corsham
Wiltshire SN13 9TZ
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1225 812102
Fax: +44 (0)1225 812103

Energy for Sustainable Development Limited, UK

Other related links:
‘Energy access: a prerequisite to achieving the Millennium Development Goals’

‘Can renewable energy help reduce poverty?’

‘Integrating energy, gender and rural development’

‘Biofuels, trade and sustainable development’