Africa needs almost US$240 billion in annual energy investment by 2030 – Africa Energy Indaba calls for stronger connections between projects, capital, technology and expertise
Africa stands at a defining moment in its energy development. Electricity demand is growing, economies are industrialising and new industries are emerging. At the same time, major energy access and infrastructure gaps remain.
The challenge is substantial – but so too is the opportunity.
Africa requires investment across virtually every part of the energy value chain, including generation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, battery storage, oil and gas, grid modernisation, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), annual energy investment in Africa needs to increase to almost US$240 billion by 2030 under its Sustainable Africa Scenario, with around half of that investment required in the electricity sector. Yet the investment gap remains significant. The IEA’s World Energy Investment 2025 report states that Africa accounts for approximately 20% of the world’s population but attracts only 2% of global clean-energy investment.
The continent does not lack energy resources or opportunity. Africa has exceptional solar and wind resources, significant hydropower and natural gas potential, and growing opportunities in geothermal energy, green hydrogen and other emerging technologies.
But resources alone do not deliver infrastructure. Projects require capital. Infrastructure requires technology and engineering expertise. Investment requires bankable projects and enabling regulatory environments.
The critical question is therefore: How do we connect Africa’s energy opportunity with the global capital, technology and expertise required to deliver it?
Governments cannot finance the scale of infrastructure required alone. Private capital, development finance institutions, commercial banks, institutional investors and infrastructure funds will all have an increasingly important role to play.
However, Africa should seek more than capital. The strongest international partnerships will combine investment, technology, skills development, localisation, knowledge transfer and long-term market development.
Energy investment must also be considered within the context of Africa’s wider economic ambitions. Energy enables mining, manufacturing, beneficiation, agriculture, digital infrastructure, transport and virtually every modern economic activity.
“We should not simply be asking how many megawatts Africa is adding. We should be asking what economic activity those megawatts will enable,” says Liz Hart, Managing Director of the Africa Energy Indaba.
Connecting Opportunity with Investment
This need to connect projects, capital and expertise will be at the heart of the Africa Energy Indaba 2027, taking place from 2–4 March 2027 at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Indaba brings together African governments, utilities, regulators, project developers, IPPs, investors, financiers, development institutions, technology providers and major energy users with international organisations seeking to enter, expand or strengthen their position within African energy markets.
For governments and project developers, it provides access to investors, financiers, technology and development partners. For investors and financiers, it creates direct engagement with governments, utilities and project owners. For technology and energy companies, it provides an opportunity to understand market requirements, establish partnerships and develop new business across the continent.
“Africa has spent many years discussing its energy challenges. The next decade must increasingly be about implementation,” adds Hart.
“Africa has the resources, demand and opportunity. The world has capital, technology and expertise. Our task now is to connect them – and turn Africa’s energy potential into infrastructure, investment, industrialisation and economic growth.”
The opportunity is enormous. The investment gap is equally significant.
