Power of good

LI MIN/CHINA DAILY

The Africa-China Dar es Salaam Consensus, issued at the 13th meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum in March 2024, outlines strategies for addressing global challenges and fostering deeper cooperation between the two sides. The first-year anniversary of this milestone document offers a valuable opportunity to further explore its key dimensions, particularly in the realm of green energy cooperation.

The future of green energy collaboration between China and Africa carries profound implications, not just for both sides but for the entire planet. With climate change posing one of the most pressing global threats, the urgency for sustainable energy solutions cannot be overstated.

China and Africa are uniquely positioned to lead the quest for a more sustainable world. Together, they possess the resources, technology and human capital to reshape the global energy landscape. Beyond just a bilateral endeavor, green energy cooperation between China and Africa could serve as a model for international collaboration, demonstrating how cross-regional partnerships can address global challenges.

China and Africa are ideal green energy development partners and their cooperation in this field can thrive for many good reasons. First, China and Africa possess complementary strengths, making them natural partners in the pursuit of green energy. On the one hand, China has established itself as a global leader in renewable energy. It boasts the world's largest solar and wind power industries and has registered significant advancements in energy storage, grid infrastructure and electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, Africa is richly endowed with renewable energy resources. Africa holds approximately 60 percent of the world's most optimal solar energy resources and possesses enormous wind, hydro and geothermal potential. Additionally, it has massive deposits of raw minerals used in new energy technologies for EVs, stationary energy storage and green hydrogen production. But despite its huge potential, Africa remains energy poor. It accounts for about 6 percent of global energy production and more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity.

Accordingly, China's expertise in manufacturing, clean technology and large-scale project implementation makes it an ideal partner for Africa to drive toward its renewable energy aspirations. Africa can work with China to harness its resources and tap into its potential, which will help it meet rising energy demands and also contribute to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Second, the fact they share an interest in sustainable development positions China and African nations as natural green energy partners. Notably, China has now entered a stage of accelerated green and low-carbon high-quality development, while it aims to hit peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Moreover, its signature Belt and Road Initiative emphasizes sustainable development.

This aligns seamlessly with Africa's Agenda 2063 and other regional strategic frameworks that center on green development. Despite being least responsible for the global climate crisis and accounting for under 4 percent of global emissions, Africa is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Ultimately, Chinese and African shared interests and aims create opportunities for productive collaboration. Working together, they can achieve their multifaceted development ambitions while meaningfully addressing climate change-related challenges.

Third, green energy cooperation between China and Africa promises socioeconomic benefits. For example, across Africa, where many countries remain underdeveloped and face high unemployment, investments in renewable energy infrastructure can create jobs and improve living standards. From manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines to building and maintaining energy grids, the employment opportunities are vast.

Also, China's experience in building a green economy offers valuable insights for Africa. By leveraging Chinese expertise in sophisticated renewable energy technology and infrastructure development, African countries can create new industries and build a sustainable energy sector that drives robust economic growth. For China, the continent also presents an alternative market, which is crucial as the West increasingly imposes tariffs, adopts protectionism and pushes for economic decoupling.

Finally, China and Africa's long history of engagement is also crucial. It establishes a foundation of trust, institutional knowledge and rich experiences that can be drawn from and built upon to establish fruitful green energy cooperation.

There are several avenues through which China-Africa green energy cooperation may flourish. Through support and investment, China can help African countries reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and transition to cleaner energy sources, while the focus on rural electrification can help alleviate poverty and improve living standards for millions of people. Moreover, investments can include capacity-building dimensions, which will ensure Africans are appropriately trained to operate or manage new infrastructure, thus supporting long-term employment and sustainability.

China and Africa could look to develop regional energy grids across the continent. Presently, many African countries rely on stand-alone power grid energy systems that are aging, costly to run and unreliable. Through developing interconnected regional grids, African countries can share renewable energy resources, balance supply and demand, and enhance their energy security.

In this regard, China's prowess in building and managing large-scale grid infrastructure would be invaluable. Furthermore, developing transnational power grids that connect countries with abundant renewable energy resources to those with high demand would not only improve energy access in Africa but also promote integration and cooperation throughout the continent.

Another avenue for cooperation is technology transfer and knowledge exchange. China has accumulated a wealth of expertise in renewable energy technologies, ranging from solar panel manufacturing to wind turbine design and grid management. Accordingly, sharing this expertise with African countries can accelerate the development of the continent's renewable energy sector.

In addition to continuing to provide scholarships and training opportunities, one option is establishing renewable energy training centers in Africa, with support from Chinese experts. These centers could nurture and provide training to locals in various aspects of renewable energy, including installation, maintenance and management of solar, wind and hydroelectric power systems. By strengthening local capacity, African countries can develop a skilled workforce that is capable of addressing local challenges and driving the renewable energy sector forward independently.

Alongside all the above, China and Africa can collaborate to establish effective policy and regulatory frameworks to encourage the adoption of renewable energy and smooth private sector investment. As an example, China's experience in crafting supportive policies for renewable energy, such as feed-in tariffs and subsidies, offers valuable insights for African policymakers. Alternatively, cooperation could include harmonizing standards and regulations for renewable energy technologies, which can facilitate the trade of renewable energy equipment and also ease foreign investment.

By leveraging their complementarity, sharing knowledge and technology, and investing in renewable energy infrastructure, China and Africa can create a powerful partnership that benefits the two regions and helps the planet.

Importantly, this cooperation is not just about addressing the urgent challenge of climate change. It is also about seizing the opportunity to drive economic growth, create dignified jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of people, as well as building a future where clean, affordable and reliable energy is accessible to all.

The author is a research analyst at the Eritrean Center for Strategic Studies. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.