A team of hydrologists and bioengineers affiliated with several institutions across Europe has found, via modeling, that building dams to generate hydroelectricity in Africa may be not be a cost-effective approach in light of falling costs for solar and wind power. In their study, reported in the journal Science, the group developed models projecting energy needs up to the year 2050.
Currently, Africa’s energy needs are provided mostly by fossil fuels—up to 70% comes from burning coal, gas or diesel fuel. Africa is also in transition, as areas without electricity seek to join the grid. That, plus a growing population, suggest that Africa is going to require a lot more electricity in the coming years.
