CHANGSHA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- China-Africa renewable energy cooperation projects have reached a combined installed capacity of over 17 gigawatts between 2023 and 2026, strengthening Africa's energy supply foundation and improving the security of local power systems, according to a report released Wednesday.
The China-Africa Renewable Energy Cooperation Report 2026 was unveiled at the third China-Africa Energy Cooperation Project Promotion Conference in central China's Hunan Province, which hosts the permanent venue of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo.
In recent years, under frameworks including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the two sides have deepened cooperation in key areas such as green energy and energy infrastructure connectivity, the report noted.
Major hydropower, wind and photovoltaic projects have been launched under China-Africa cooperation, while numerous livelihood projects have taken root in rural areas, bridging the last-mile gap in rural electricity access, said Yi Yuechun, president of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute.
Innovative projects, including energy storage systems, have also been implemented, providing practical support for the development of technology roadmaps tailored to African countries and for replicable models of cooperation, Yi added.
Jiang Hao, director of international business department of the institute, said this year's conference focused more on providing integrated solutions to Africa, developing localized development plans with African partners, and building a regular platform for hands-on training to cultivate Africa's capacity for independent clean energy development.
The Aysha Wind Farm in Ethiopia offers a concrete example of this approach. During construction and commissioning, many local technicians received practical training from Chinese technicians and gradually mastered core skills, including turbine installation and operation and maintenance.
China's experience in equipment manufacturing and energy infrastructure development has created valuable opportunities for cooperation, said Nardos Bekele-Thomas, chief executive officer of the African Union Development Agency.
She expressed hope that more entities support African companies in integrating into the green energy industrial chain, developing products tailored to the African market and upgrading cooperation models to better meet Africa's actual needs for sustainable development. ■
