This report is part of the IRENA series, Planning and Prospects for Renewable Energy, that focuses on renewable electricity generation in African power pools. It builds on the work of the IRENA Regional Modelling Analysis & Planning Support Programme for Central Africa, which was implemented in partnership with the Central African Power Pool (CAPP) in 2020–2023.

The report includes an introduction to key characteristics of the regional power sector landscape, and a consolidated regional analysis of potential scenarios for long-term power sector development in the region. In doing so, it partially documents the inputs and outputs of the SPLAT-Africa model that were elaborated by participants in the IRENA-CAPP programme, and provides a foundation of transparent power sector data for local stakeholders. As the region embarks on the development of its first official regional power sector masterplan, the capacity built by the IRENA-CAPP programme and this report are both considered essential inputs.

The study shows that despite a urgent need for investment to address low levels of electricity access in the region, there is potential for significant expansion of electricity demand. In all scenarios, renewable sources, particularly hydropower, are able to meet the vast majority of projected demand to 2040 based purely on cost optimisation and excellent resource quality across the Central African region. The study also shows large untapped potential for greater cross-border electricity trade, which would take advantage of complementary resources to reduce overall regional costs and provide system flexibility.

Report by the International Renewable Energy Agency