Technology in Africa for sustainable alternative energy growth : an innovative bird eye view

Abstract: Over the last decade, numerous ideas have insistently emerged and triggered several social, economic and environmental discuss emanating from energy insufficiencies in Africa. A lot around energy poverty are currently argued particularly, on how chiefly Africa’s industrialization is prime to its potential sustainability across all facets of growth and development. Sadly, only few member countries since post-colonialism have earnestly attempted innovative approaches towards new alternative energy schemes. Nonetheless, wasteful sums have drowned in projects of less critical nature. For this reason; an innovative bird eye view (IBEV) portrayed how member countries might augment rates of dispensable energy to increase access to electricity. Hence, versatile industrialization via renewable and greener alternative energy sources can be reached. The employed measures herein, extend past industries and research institutes to involve cultural, institutional, economic and political players of key positions in innovative process. Firstly, a conceptual idea of “learning” was conveyed as vital to IBEV, seeing innovation and production as pertinent and dynamic. On a second note, the work featured instances of trials to create renewable energy industries around the continent. Lastly, the possible transformation of research outlets such as the African Network for Solar Energy (ANSOLE) into inventions was highlighted, emphasizing how innovations might be born from inventions. A vital policy suggestion was that divisions of African “innovative force” such as a technological head like South Africa can for example; engage more with member countries involved in production or assembly while creating beneficial agreements with them. Thus, with mixed innovation schemes, more effective knowledge transfer can be groomed across the continent