A new study produced by the World Future Council and the Heinrich Böll Foundation (both located in Germany) suggests that using feed-in tariffs could be the best way to develop and promote renewable energy in countries across Africa.

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The report, “Powering Africa Through Feed-In Tariffs,” examined 13 African nations. In the report, such things as their socio-economic impacts and prerequisites for successful implementation were considered.

One of the key findings in the report was that feed-in tariffs (FIT) policies, when designed for local conditions, had an overall increase in energy production and helped contribute to community empowerment.

Some of the highlights from the report, picked out by SolarServer Magazine;

“Several African countries have already opened up their electricity market to independent renewable energy power producers,” stated World Future Council Africa Office Director Ansgar Kiene. “However, these countries have even more potential for local economic development if their policies are amended, by including a more streamlined and transparent administrative process and a lower entry threshold.”

Feed-in tariffs are a growing incentive for renewables globally. The World Future Council believes that 64% of global wind capacity and 87% of global solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity can be attributed to FIT policies.

Currently, there are 65 nations participating in some form of feed-in tariff. In Africa, the nations of Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda all have some form of FIT in place.

There will be several policy briefings by the World Future Council for stakeholders across Africa, due to the report’s findings, which should be an encouragement for all of those involved in helping Africa develop its renewable energy sector.

Reposted from CleanTechnica.