'Pathways for Africa’s Energy Future', a report from Finnish marine and energy technology company Wärtsilä, provides energy system modelling of three African countries: Nigeria, South Africa and Mozambique. It finds that these countries could leapfrog some developed nations by not embedding fossil fuel-based systems. To enable such a massive transformation a combination of climate finance, effective planning and system reforms will be essential.

The report demonstrates that replacing coal with renewable energy and flexibility from engines and energy storage is the most cost-effective way to reduce energy costs, increase energy access and improve reliability.

The modelling also finds that renewable energy could reliably provide power for close to 100 million people in South Africa, Mozambique and Nigeria who currently do not have energy access, providing it were matched with the required grid infrastructure.

Under the scenarios modelled, the report...