Prioritizing renewable energy and energy efficiency to accelerate growth in Africa

ABB supported a number of pledges signed by world leaders at COP21 in Paris, including a commitment to scale up renewable energy and help emerging economies transition their markets for energy efficient products. At COP22, ABB showed how this commitment translates into solutions and services that enable access to electricity and improve lives. Notable at this year’s event was that business and technology providers took the initiative and focused on how the pledges could be implemented. It’s significant that COP22 took place in Africa where almost 600 million people lack access to electricity. Only seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa – Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa – have electricity access rates exceeding 50 percent (McKinsey & Company report).