Now in its fourth year, Power Africa is laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth in Africa while creating opportunities for American businesses as it makes progress towards its goal of increasing installed generation capacity by 30,000 megawatts (MW) and adding 60 million new electricity connections by 2030.

Since its inception, Power Africa has facilitated the financial close of 80 power transactions valued at more than $14.5 billion, and expected to generate more than 7,200 MW of power in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, Power Africa has facilitated more than 10 million electrical connections, bringing electricity to more than 50 million people.

The report also highlights the role of women in Africa’s power sector, chronicling the contributions of select members of Power Africa’s Women in African Power (WiAP) network. It includes an executive letter from the Honorable Irene Muloni, Minister for Energy and Minerals in Uganda, as well as profiles of women strengthening Africa’s power sector.

• Power Africa Annual Report: Third Year in Review - September 2016

• Power Africa Annual Report: Second Year in Review - July 2015

• Power Africa Annual Report - July 2014

---

Progress towards Power Africa’s 2020 and 2030 Goals

In June 2013, Power Africa launched with the goal of doubling access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing installed generation capacity by 30,000 megawatts (MW) while adding 60 million new household and business connections by 2030.

In February 2016, the U.S. Congress passed the Electrify Africa Act of 2015, which charges Power Africa with increasing installed generation capacity by 20,000 MW, while adding first-time energy access for 50 million beneficiaries by 2020 – an effort that directly supports and complements Power Africa’s original goal.

Power Africa has Supported Private Sector

Companies and Utilities in Connecting a Total of 10.6 million Homes and Businesses

Power Africa has made significant progress toward its connections goals. Sales of off-grid system sales are increasing as companies scale in more established markets, enter new markets, and expand product offerings to meet customer demand.

Power Africa assists these companies by refining and strengthening marketing and retail strategies, developing new partnerships with distribution and retail entities, analyzing project data to optimize operations, and providing business, network and distribution intelligence. Power Africa also supports larger-scale energy solutions by advancing micro-grid standards, piloting new micro-grid business models, and supporting expansion of and planning by utilities. Power Africa expects to see increased connections from these efforts in the coming years.

To date, Power Africa has supported private-sector companies and utilities in connecting a total of 10.6 million homes and businesses to power solutions – that is approximately 53 million people who have gained access to electricity since 2013. While Power Africa is proud of this achievement, our job is far from over. Approximately two-thirds of these connections are from solar lanterns, which provide basic access to a single light and mobile phone charging. For many households – particularly in remote and low income areas – gaining access to this kind of system represents a critical first step and results in dramatic livelihood improvements. However, larger systems – including solar home systems, micro-grids, and central grids – are required to provide people with the power they need to run major appliances and create businesses. To date, Power Africa has connected more than two million households and businesses to such solutions, which has provided more than 10 million people with higher levels of energy service.

U.S. Businesses and U.S. Investment

Power Africa is delivering results for American firms. Applying U.S. Government resources in support of U.S. business growth in Africa; Power Africa has a hand in developing multi-million and billion dollar projects that are producing returns for U.S. investors, and supporting job growth at home.

• 80 Power Africa transactions valued at more than $14.5 billion are now either online, under construction, or have reached final close, and 26 of these deals currently involve the U.S. private sector.

• Power Africa transactions and energy-sector projects in sub-Saharan Africa that are at or near completion are projected to include more than $500 million in U.S. exports.

• Power Africa’s pipeline includes more than 100 additional transactions and projects involving the U.S. private sector that are projected to support approximately $7 billion in export opportunities.

• U.S. Private-sector partners: 64 partners across 22 states. Additionally, the U.S. supply chain for Power Africa projects includes another 60 U.S. companies and growing which has extended Power Africa’s domestic network to 33 states.

Connecting U.S. Businesses to African Markets

Through USTDA, Power Africa offers critical support to small and medium-sized U.S. companies that are new to the African market. Our boots-on-the-ground approach provides expanded market intelligence, opens relationships with African stakeholders, and helps develop new opportunities for U.S. commercial partnerships in some of the fastest growing markets in the world.