Africa's economic and population growth prospects are likely to increase energy and water demands. This quantitative study shows that pathways towards decarbonization of the energy sector in Africa may lead to higher water withdrawals and consumption than expected. By 2065, investments in low-carbon energy infrastructure increase annual withdrawals from 1% (2.0oC) to 2% (1.5oC) of total renewable water resources compared to 3% in the baseline scenario, despite lower final energy demands in the mitigation scenarios. Water consumption, in comparison to the baseline, increases by 282% (2.0oC) and 300% (1.5oC) by 2065, due to the high water-intensity of the low-carbon energy system. To meet the 1.5oC pathway, the energy sector requires higher water consumption overall and per unit of energy than other scenarios. These findings demonstrate the crucial role of integrated energy planning and water resources management if Africa is to achieve climate-compatible growth.

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In the last decades, energy modelling has supported energy planning by offering insights into the dynamics between energy access, resource use, and sustainable development. Especially in recent years, there has been an attempt to strengthen the science-policy interface and increase the involvement of society in energy planning processes. This has, both in the EU and worldwide, led to the development of open-source and transparent energy modelling practices. This paper describes the role of an open-source energy modelling tool in the energy planning process and highlights its importance for society. Specifically, it describes the existence and characteristics of the relationship between developing an open-source, freely available tool and its application, dissemination and use for policy making. Using the example of the Open Source energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS), this work focuses on practices that were established within the community and that made the framework's development and application both relevant and scientifically grounded.

Notwithstanding current heavy dependence on gas-fired electricity generation in the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP), hydropower is expected to play an essential role in improving electricity access in the region. Expansion planning of electricity infrastructure is critical to support investment and maintaining balanced consumer electricity prices. Variations in water availability due to a changing climate could leave hydro infrastructure stranded or result in underutilization of available resources. In this study, we develop a framework consisting of long-term models for electricity supply and water systems management, to assess the vulnerability of potential expansion plans to the effects of climate change. We find that the most resilient EAPP rollout strategy corresponds to a plan optimised for a slightly wetter climate compared to historical trends. This study demonstrates that failing to climate-proof infrastructure investments can result in significant electricity price fluctuations in selected countries (Uganda & Tanzania) while others, such as Egypt, are less vulnerable.

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