Participating at Enlit Africa 2024, GE Vernova encouraged power sector stakeholders collectively to assume responsibility to develop and support solutions that address the energy trilemma of reliability, affordability, and sustainability. A recent (February 2024) S&P Global Strategic Report – Africa Energy & Economy: 2023 Review & 2024 Outlook – shows that up to 50% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population, some 600 million people, lack access to electricity, and power demand is projected to grow by about 3% in 2024, bringing into focus the need to balance energy transition aspirations with electricity availability.
Kenneth Oyakhire of GE Vernova speaking at Enlit Africa 2024.
At Enlit Africa GE Vernova exhibited some of its innovations across the power generation, transmission, and distribution sectors, giving delegates at the event the chance to explore its industry-leading technologies – in electrical systems, decarbonisation solutions for the energy sector, and breakthrough developments that can help to accelerate the journey to net zero.
As a keynote speaker at the conference, Kenneth Oyakhire, MD and CEO of Services in Sub-Saharan Africa for Gas Power at GE Vernova, said: “Energy enables growth and progress – which is why investing in reliable and affordable power is as critical as advancing lower carbon power to support health, connectivity, safety, security, and improved quality of life. At GE Vernova, we believe that the strategic deployment of renewables and gas power together can help accelerate the continent’s energy transition efforts, enabling substantive reductions in emissions quickly and at scale, and at the same time continuing to advance the technologies for low or near-zero carbon power generation.
“We also recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Multiple technologies and fuel sources will be needed, together with investments in transmission and distribution systems, as well as software solutions, with local conditions dictating what works best. The public, private, and not-for-profit sectors must work together, with governments taking the lead to structure transparent and predictable market mechanisms and policies, incentivise reductions in power sector carbon intensity, allow lifecycle economics to drive investment decisions, and encourage research on new technologies and business models.”
Across Africa, countries continue to progress in addressing their respective energy challenges. An example of this commitment and GE Vernova’s efforts to support them, is the synchronisation of the first 60 megawatt (MW) Francis hydro turbine at a 420 MW power plant in Cameroon. It represents a significant milestone for the project and for the energy transition plan in the country, as the plant is expected to cover up to 30% of Cameroon’s electricity demand, helping to provide reliable and sustainable electricity. In addition to providing seven Francis units to equip the plant, GE Vernova’s Hydro Power team is responsible for the overall coordination of the project, including the design, manufacture, erection supervision, and commissioning of the turbines and generators, the control system, and the mechanical balance of plant.
GE Vernova spun-off from GE and began trading as an independent company on the New York Stock Exchange on April 2, 2024. With about 55 000 wind turbines and 7 000 gas turbines in operation, GE Vernova's technology base helps generate about 30% of the world's electricity and can play a valuable role in the energy transition. The company has a legacy spanning more than 100 years in Africa, working across the electricity value chain from generation through various power sources including wind, hydro, gas, nuclear, and more, to providing transmission, distribution, and software solutions.
For more information visit: GE Vernova
