The global energy transition in emerging and developing countries

By Karen Nankwanga

The global energy transition, that is the full decarbonisation of the world energy system by 2050, is attracting growing attention in global policy debates.

The energy transition is a pathway toward the transformation of the global energy sector from fossil-based to zero-carbon by the second half of this century.

The Energy transition is built around three pillars, Power Sector Transformation Knowledge, Energy Systems and Data, as well as Energy Planning support enabled by Information Technology, Smart technology, Policy frameworks and market instruments.

At its heart is the need to reduce energy-related CO2 emissions to limit climate change, the creation of cleaner energy sources through Advanced Energy Technologies (AET) and increased use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) while ensuring that the Climate and Sustainable Development Goals are met.

Decarbonisation of the energy sector requires urgent action on a global scale, and while a global energy transition is underway, what does this mean for developing regions. The energy transition context in developing and developed regions is different based on the level of industrialization, Technology, Patterns of energy supply and consumption as well as access to energy.

Which bears the question: While the whole world is focusing on new energy technologies such as better solar panels, batteries and hydrogen systems, who is innovating for needs such as solar cooling for agricultural products, cleaning up wood-based cooking (with attendant indoor air pollution, which is much worse than outdoor pollution in places), or small electric and hybrid vehicles for local transportation?

We should view advanced technologies on two levels. First, they can help us do what we did before much more efficiently. Second, they can help us transition to new frameworks that weren't feasible before, such as energy networks or real-time pricing. The latter is where the real value lies - but such changes will take time. So where should the attention be placed as we position our nation and community to harness the opportunities that will awaken through the Transition.

Riding the global innovation wave will only take developing regions so far. There is a call to action for Governments and communities to take part in this Transition.

In the Energy Sector, every individual is a key stakeholder, from the Public and Private Sector to the Community at large thus Policy and Regulation of energy markets has to cater to and provide for Advanced Energy Technologies (AET) and Renewable Energy Sources (RES) to speed up the Transition when the wave hits the nation, so that the community, Government, and the Private sector are braced for the changes ahead to prepare for the impact it will have on the economy and business at large.

The Public and Private Sector ought to plan and prepare infrastructure with state of the art forward-looking designs that are Energy efficient, Regulation of markets though proper energy pricing and signaling, creation of a market that will attract Investment which is necessary for the integration and scaling of AET thus increasing access to energy for the community ensuring Sustainable Development goals in connection to poverty eradication are achieved through the critical role that energy plays in the development of the economy.

There is a need to align energy, technology and its disruptions with the more immediate needs of the community and the population of the country, the endgame for the Transition in the context of developing countries ought to take a societal approach with a bigger focus on econ growth of the economy and local communities. The Transition should go beyond and cater to access, inclusivity, pollution which will make for faster adoption, improvement and preparation for cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy that meet the needs of the developing countries.

RES and AET are an ongoing process and will take learning and multiple iterations to scale. Maybe we'll get the equivalent of ‘cold fusion'-style breakthroughs, but we don't need to wait for those - we aren't even harnessing existing Renewable Energy Sources and AET sufficiently. What we do need are policies that enable frameworks that incentivize, accelerate and scale the Transition and innovation - because the Transition is already happening.

The writer is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, a Certified Project Management Practitioner and Energy Law Practitioner.

I am currently based in the United Kingdom