The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) will allocate 7.88 million dollars from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to the Africa Energy Transition Catalyst Program (AETC), which aims to increase renewable energy generation across the continent.

The AETC consolidates the Bank's support for accelerating the Just Energy Transition (JET) strategy for Africa, defined as a low-carbon, inclusive transition that creates decent work opportunities and harms no one, writes Profile, quoting the AfDB.

The AETC program sets out to achieve multiple objectives, including carrying out a Regional Market Study to facilitate the export of renewable energy from Botswana and Namibia as part of the 2-5 (Gigawatt) GW Mega Solar initiative.

According to the source, the group also aims to advance the development of the ZiZaBoNa regional transmission interconnector, the purpose of which is to increase energy trade between Zimbabwe, Zambia, northern Malawi and north-eastern Mozambique.

The first phase of the Mega Solar initiative focuses on the competitive procurement of 300-500 megawatts of solar power in Namibia and Botswana. Once the regional transmission lines are built, it will catalyze the acquisition of additional generation that can supply low-cost renewable energy to neighboring countries.

The Mega Solar initiative is a commitment to large-scale solar development collaboration between Power Africa, a provider of renewable energy and other alternative energy solutions in South Africa, the governments of Botswana and Namibia.

This cooperation also includes the African Development Bank, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation.

The AETC includes collaboration with the African Energy Commission to develop a continental Energy Transition Framework and Roadmap.

The program will also play a key role in supporting the implementation of Tunisia's JET (2035) by funding feasibility studies for an offshore wind farm (250-500 MW) with integrated energy storage.