How an African energy revolution could save ALL of us.

There is a quiet revolution happening across the vast content of Africa. Imports of solar PV panels jumped 60% in the 12 months to June 2025. Millions of microgrids and individual solar installations are now driving the electrification of just about every African nation. But fossil fuels still dominate most existing utility scale grids. So, can the people of Africa by pass the centralised monopolies and drive their own renewable prosperity. Because if they can, they might just save all of us!

Help support this channel's independence at
http://www.patreon.com/justhaveathink

Or with a donation via Paypal by clicking here
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GWR73EHXGJMAE&source=url

You can also help keep my brain ticking over during the long hours of research and editing via the nice folks at BuyMeACoffee.com
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/justhaveathink

Video Transcripts available at our website
http://www.justhaveathink.com

Reference Links:

EMBER : The first evidence of a take-off in solar in Africa
https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2025/08/Report-Ember-The-first-evidence-of-a-take-off-in-solar-in-Africa.pdf

Energy in Africa - Solar imports jump by 60%
https://energyinafrica.com/insight/solar-imports-into-africa-surges/

Check the EnergyProjects YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ki96zsNuHk

Chatham House reports
https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/12/response-debt-distress-africa-and-role-china

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/03/competing-visions-international-order/02-china-balancing-us-increasing-global-influence

Wood Mackenzie analysis
https://www.woodmac.com/blogs/the-edge/africas-energy-future-africas-terms

Institute for Security & Development Policy
https://www.isdp.eu/publication/chinas-great-retreat-unpacking-the-boom-bust-and-strategic-withdrawal-from-africa

The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2021/02/china-debt-trap-diplomacy/617953

Microgrids in Nigeria
https://energyalliance.org/partnerships-for-power-unlocking-scale-for-interconnected-minigrids-in-nigeria

Associated Press - African Solar Potential
https://apnews.com/article/africa-solar-tower-renewable-energy-698216c8520dbaf9385e7d41515901b1

Business Insider - Nigeria set to be 3rd most populous nation by 2100
https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/nigeria-to-overtake-china-as-the-second-most-populous-country-in-the-world-by-2100/tvrhcng

Chinese debt relief analysis
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5652847de4b033f56d2bdc29/t/60353345259d4448e01a37d8/1614099270470/WP+39+-+Acker%2C+Brautigam%2C+Huang+-+Debt+Relief.pdf

Check out other YouTube Climate Communicators

Simon Clark:
youtube.com/user/SimonOxfPhys

ClimateTown:
youtube.com/channel/UCuVLG9pThvBABcYCm7pkNkA

Dr Gilbz
youtube.com/@DrGilbz

zentouro:
youtube.com/user/zentouro

Climate Adam:
youtube.com/user/ClimateAdam

Kurtis Baute:
youtube.com/user/ScopeofScience

Sarah Karvner:
youtube.com/channel/UCRwMkTu8sCwOOD6_7QYrZnw

Beckisphere: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT39HQq5eDKonaUV8ujiBCQ

Our Changing Climate :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNXvxXpDJXp-mZu3pFMzYHQ