Access to affordable and sustainable electricity is of fundamental importance to development in much of Africa. But, while access to electricity is improving, contributions from non-hydropower renewable energy sources remain small. At the same time, China – the powerhouse of solar energy technologies – has made limited contribution to harnessing Africa’s renewable energy. Combining insights from recent webinars and research, this Policy Briefing discusses how China–Africa cooperation on renewable energy could lead to improvements in access to and supply of affordable and sustainable energy in Africa. Recommendations for African and Chinese policymakers and businesses include the adoption of transparent, competitive, and locally inclusive energy procurement and use mechanisms.

Solar energy is the most abundant energy source on earth. This paper suggests a new concept of solar collection that prints the solar cells directly onto a spherical surface, or a balloon. The energy collection efficiency of such a spherical surface is analyzed and compared with a conventional flat-panel collector. An experimental apparatus is built to test the solar energy reception from all directions, including the scattering and reflections from various terrain. The results show that the usage of spherical collectors such as solar balloons is a viable approach.