Written By: Faith Jemosop
While solar and wind dominate Africa’s renewable energy headlines, they are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the continent’s soil, along its coasts, and across its vast rural landscapes lie other powerful but underutilized renewable sources: geothermal heat, ocean tides, biomass waste, small hydropower, and even green hydrogen. Africa’s renewable energy potential is far broader than commonly acknowledged, and largely untapped.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Africa uses less than 10% of its renewable energy potential. Solar and wind have gained traction due to falling costs and quick deployment. Yet, a diversified energy mix, including overlooked sources, is essential for energy resilience, rural development, and achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and UN SDG 7: access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
1. Geothermal Energy – A Dormant Giant in East Africa
Africa’s geothermal potential is estimated at 15,000 MW, with Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Rwanda, and Tanzania forming part of the East African Rift System, a hotbed of underground steam and heat.
- Kenya is already a geothermal leader, with over 950 MW installed capacity, making up almost 40% of its electricity mix. Yet, even Kenya taps less than 10% of its potential.
- Ethiopia has made strides, recently launching the Corbetti and Tulu Moye projects.
- Djibouti and Rwanda are conducting exploratory drilling with World Bank and AfDB support.
Barriers: High upfront exploration costs (up to $30 million per site), lack of skilled local workforce, and limited financing mechanisms.
Geothermal offers 24/7 baseload power, unaffected by weather fluctuations critical for industrial growth and urban reliability.
2. Tidal and Wave Energy – The Untapped Blue Power
With over 30,000 km of coastline and strong tidal movements in countries like Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Senegal, Africa has tremendous wave and tidal energy potential.
- Madagascar has unique coastal formations ideal for pilot tidal projects, especially in the Nosy Be region.
- South Africa’s Agulhas Current is among the fastest ocean currents globally, offering immense kinetic energy potential.
- Mauritius and Seychelles are testing small-scale ocean energy projects for island electrification.
Barriers: Technology is still expensive and in early stages globally. Africa lacks pilot-scale investments, skilled engineers, and robust marine energy research.
Tidal energy is predictable and constant, ideal for coastal microgrids and remote communities, reducing diesel dependence and cutting marine pollution.
3. Biomass and Waste-to-Energy – A Missed Rural Opportunity
Agriculture dominates most African economies, producing huge quantities of organic waste. According to IRENA, biomass could meet up to 50% of Africa’s total energy demand, yet remains widely underutilized or misused through inefficient traditional cooking.
- Nigeria leads in biomass feedstock (cassava peels, rice husks, sawdust) and has over 10,000 MW theoretical capacity from biomass alone.
- Ghana, Uganda, and Ivory Coast have vibrant agro-industrial sectors suitable for modern biogas systems.
- Kenya is piloting sugarcane bagasse plants in Western and Nyanza regions.
Barriers: Weak regulatory frameworks, lack of private sector incentives, and limited public awareness.
Biomass power can provide off-grid electricity, clean cooking alternatives, and reduce rural poverty. Moreover, waste-to-energy projects can solve urban sanitation and landfill overflows.
4. Small Hydropower – The Quiet Renewable Hero
Large dams dominate headlines, but small hydropower (SHP), plants below 10 MW, can be built along rivers and irrigation channels with minimal environmental disruption.
- DR Congo, Mozambique, Zambia, and Uganda have thousands of rivers that could host SHPs.
- SHPs could electrify over 100 million rural Africans without waiting for national grids.
- Burundi’s SHP at Gikonge and Rwanda’s Nyabarongo plant offer replicable blueprints.
Barriers: Lack of mapping data, seasonal variability of water flow, and policy neglect in favor of large hydro or solar.
SHPs offer low-cost, low-emission energy for irrigation, schools, clinics, and rural businesses, boosting agro-industrialization and reducing migration.
5. Green Hydrogen – The Future Power Export?
Green hydrogen produced using solar or wind power to split water into hydrogen is being touted as a future clean fuel for industries, vehicles, and power plants.
- Namibia has positioned itself as Africa’s green hydrogen hub, attracting billions in investment and launching the Hyphen project (aimed at exporting 300,000 tonnes annually).
- Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa are developing hydrogen corridors linked to Europe and Asia.
- The African Green Hydrogen Alliance is coordinating a continental hydrogen strategy.
Barriers: High costs, water scarcity for electrolysis in arid zones, and lack of domestic hydrogen use markets.
If harnessed strategically, hydrogen could transform Africa into a global energy exporter, much like Gulf countries with oil, only this time, clean.
Private Sector and Research Initiatives on the Move
Private companies and research institutions are beginning to explore these untapped resources:
- Kenya’s KenGen and Geothermal Development Company (GDC) continue expanding wells in Menengai and Olkaria.
- West African startup Finergreen is piloting biomass digesters in Nigerian farms.
- Madagascar’s Wave Swell Energy and South African universities are exploring marine energy prototypes.
- German-African Hydrogen Partnerships are funding feasibility studies in Namibia and South Africa.
Public-private partnerships, concessional financing, and targeted policy support are key to scaling these efforts continent-wide.
Economic and Energy Gains Ahead
If even 30% of these untapped sources were developed, Africa could:
- Add 100,000+ MW of clean energy
- Electrify hundreds of millions in off-grid areas
- Create millions of jobs in green construction, maintenance, and supply chains
- Cut carbon emissions, deforestation, and diesel imports
- Generate energy export revenue from hydrogen and biomass
Also read: Liberia’s Electricity Regulatory Gains Clash with Infrastructure Fragility
Solar and wind will remain the backbone of Africa’s energy transition, but relying solely on them would be a mistake. Geothermal, tidal, biomass, SHP, and green hydrogen offer unique benefits that can complement and stabilize power grids, uplift rural economies, and unlock new green industries.
As climate change intensifies and energy demand soars, tapping these hidden renewables is no longer optional, it’s Africa’s next energy revolution.
