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Africa’s energy transition held back by ‘Zombie’ systems

Zombie Energy Systems (ZES) are a critical barrier to Africa’s energy transition. This is according to a study published by Environmental Research Energy— a multidisciplinary, open-access journal dedicated to addressing key challenges associated with energy.

The report highlights the crucial need for detailed assessments to identify and prioritise zombie energy systems for decommissioning or modernisation. The research organisation state that these energy systems are outdated, inefficient, and environmentally harmful.

These include, they say, ageing coal and natural gas power plants, obsolete hydroelectric dams and poorly maintained transmission grids, as well as secondhand appliances and vehicles.

The report indicates that these systems persist despite their detrimental impact on progress, depleting resources and delaying economic and climate goals.

“These ZES hinder Africa’s energy transition, yet they receive limited attention in the international energy development arena. Rooted in colonial-era legacies, economic constraints, and policy shortcomings, these energy systems have led to a persistent misalignment between energy supply and development goals, perpetuating energy poverty and limiting economic growth.”

The report states that in addition to colonial legacy issues, today, many energy projects in Africa suffer from inadequate planning and execution.

“A typical example of a ZES in Africa resulting from inadequate planning and execution is Nigeria’s electricity generation and transmission system. Despite having an installed electricity generation capacity of approximately 16GW, the transmission system in Nigeria can only effectively transmit around 7.5GW of power.

“This disparity between generation capacity and transmission capacity reflects a failure in planning and execution, leading to an inefficient use of resources and infrastructure.”

Zombie systems are a hidden bottleneck on Africa’s energy progress

According to the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), these energy systems are a hidden bottleneck on Africa’s energy progress, wasting financial and energy resources, contributing to energy poverty, and misaligning with climate and development goals.

The CATF is a global nonprofit organisation working to protect against the worst impacts of climate change.

“For the energy transformation in Africa to succeed, we need to phase out these inefficient systems, modernise existing infrastructure, and mobilise the resources necessary for restoring or repurposing Zombie Energy Systems,” said Michael Dioha, Senior Energy Researcher at CATF.

The report analyses several examples of ZES across the continent, demonstrating their impact on energy access, economic growth, and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the report, the examples are:

• Kariba Dam (Zambia and Zimbabwe): A colonial-era hydropower project shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe has become inefficient and vulnerable due to inadequate maintenance, outdated technology, and limited resources. Its deterioration, compounded by recent droughts, highlights how reliance on ageing and climate-sensitive infrastructure perpetuates energy challenges in Africa.
• Nigeria’s power grid: A system where misaligned planning and inadequate transmission capacity perpetuate energy shortfalls. Despite having an installed electricity generation capacity of approximately 16GW, the transmission system in Nigeria can only effectively transmit around 7.5GW of power. Between January 2010 and June 2022, Nigeria experienced 222 instances of partial or complete grid collapses.
• South Africa’s coal plants: Ageing, poorly maintained coal-powered plants are a central driver of the country’s recurring load-shedding crises, with outages lasting 2 to 12 hours daily for 332 days in 2023. These facilities, responsible for approximately 85% of South Africa’s coal-powered electricity, suffer from significant operational inefficiencies. Eskom, the state-owned utility generating 95% of the country’s electricity, has seen its energy availability factor decline sharply from 75% in 2014 to 58% in 2023.

To address ZES, the paper recommends the following, among others:

• Strengthening regulatory frameworks: Establishing robust oversight to ensure accountability, operational efficiency, and the integration of modern energy technologies.
• Energy efficiency initiatives: Promoting widespread adoption of efficient appliances, optimising industrial processes, and implementing stringent building codes to reduce energy waste.
• Innovative financing mechanisms: Mobilising investment through tools like green bonds, concessional loans, and public-private partnerships to support grid modernisation and renewable energy deployment.

Read the full Unearthing the reality of ‘Zombie energy systems’ in Africa’s energy transition.

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ESI Africa
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ESI Africa

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