The renewable energy opportunities across Africa are among the strongest in the world, but the continent continues to capture only a fraction of global investment flows. The result is slow progress on electrification, financial strain on utilities, and underutilised resources. Unlocking Africa’s full potential requires reliable, confidence-building market reforms that enable private sector participation and turn renewable energy opportunities into scalable, bankable pipelines.
This new GET.transform publication, Breaking Barriers, Building Markets – Accelerating a Just Transition through Market Reforms, examines how opening power markets can unlock the investment and innovation needed to meet Africa’s growing demand for reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity.
The paper highlights a pivotal shift: moving from a bottom-up, project-by-project approach toward structured markets that enable broad participation. Market reform creates space for diverse new players, reducing risk through diversification and driving down costs.
Case studies bring these dynamics to life. Namibia’s Modified Single Buyer model opens the door to private-to-private deals and cross-border trade. Lesotho is adapting its single buyer system to allow independent producers. South Africa is pursuing unbundling and new market platforms to gradually reduce Eskom’s dominance. Together, they illustrate that while there is no single blueprint, phased and context-specific reforms can make a lasting difference.
The message is clear: Africa’s energy transition is as much about institutions and frameworks as it is about turbines and solar panels. Market reforms, designed with predictability, inclusivity, and strong institutions, can close the financing gap, scale renewable energy, and lay the foundation for a just transition.
