Research Article // Forecast on Africa’s power production up to 2030 with related water use and CO2 emissions

Abstract 

Africa needs to increase electricity production to improve electricity access. For informed decision making, there is a need for reliable, findable, high-quality, open access and spatially distributed power plant data with associated water use and CO₂ emissions amounts. Here we present a detailed spatial inventory of operational, under construction and planned African power plants from 2020 until 2030, covering 3,139 individual plants, the result of an intensive data mining effort. 

This inventory forecasts a 57% increase to 1,787,858 Gigawatthours in electricity production from 2023 to 2030. Related water use and CO₂ emissions increase substantially, showing trade-offs in water and carbon intensity of different fuel types. Africa is stepping up in planning and constructing additional power plants, with renewables’ share growing from 19% to 34%. 

However, the increase in hydropower puts additional pressure on available water resources. Current power plant construction falls slightly short on commitments in the nationally determined contributions. 

Published in: Nature Communications

Published on: 07 May 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72692-2

Available: Forecast on Africa’s power production up to 2030 with related water use and CO₂ emissions