Written By: By Jemosop Faith, Faith specializes in energy conversations in Africa. Breaking down complex policy discussions into accessible, everyday conversations, she is a writer at Africa Digest News backed by 2+ years of focused experience.
Africa’s energy infrastructure built to serve growing economies and expanding populations is increasingly being damaged, degraded, and destabilized by climate change. From weakened hydroelectric dams to overheating thermal plants and flooded power stations, climate change isn’t just a future problem it’s already undermining the systems in place today.
Existing power plants, transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks across the continent are struggling to cope with new climate realities: erratic weather patterns, increased temperature extremes, and severe natural disasters. They result in frequent blackouts, reduced energy efficiency, costly repairs, and worsening energy inequality.
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Flooding and Storms Are Damaging Infrastructure Physically
One of the most direct ways climate change affects existing energy systems is through intense and frequent flooding. Heavy rains and rising water levels destroy power lines, submerge substations, and wash away supporting structures.
For example, in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, the 2022 floods damaged key parts of the local grid. Transformers were submerged, cables washed away, and entire communities were cut off from power for days. Mozambique, Malawi, and Madagascar have suffered similar fates during recent cyclones.
These events are not isolated they’re becoming more common. As rainfall intensifies and sea levels rise, energy assets that were never designed for such extremes are breaking down, leading to longer outages and higher maintenance costs.
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Hydropower Infrastructure is Becoming Unreliable Due to Drought
Many African nations depend on existing hydropower facilities for a significant share of electricity. But climate change is drying up rivers and disrupting rainfall patterns, making these hydropower systems unreliable.
The Kariba Dam one of the largest hydroelectric projects in Africa has repeatedly operated below capacity due to declining water levels. In 2019, Zambia and Zimbabwe were forced to ration electricity, leading to blackouts that lasted up to 18 hours a day.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) faces similar risks. Although it’s Africa’s largest dam, shifting rainfall patterns and upstream water conflicts could limit its long-term viability. Existing hydropower infrastructure, once seen as dependable, is now increasingly uncertain under climate pressure.
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Heatwaves Reduce the Efficiency of Thermal Power Plants
Thermal power stations (gas, coal, and diesel plants) make up a large portion of Africa’s grid in countries like Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. But these plants lose efficiency during extreme heatwaves a growing concern as average temperatures rise across the continent.
Hotter air reduces the cooling capacity of these plants, forcing them to operate at reduced output. At the same time, demand for power increases dramatically as people rely on air conditioners, fans, and refrigerators to cope with the heat. This double blow reduced supply and increased demand often triggers power cuts or rolling blackouts.
The existing infrastructure was not designed to handle such extremes. Unless upgraded or replaced, thermal plants will continue to underperform in a warming world.
Also Read: President Ramkalawan Calls for Equitable Climate Financing at G77 Summit
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Transmission and Distribution Systems are Highly Vulnerable
Africa’s energy infrastructure also suffers from outdated and exposed transmission and distribution systems many of which are poorly maintained. Climate-related events such as strong winds, landslides, and intense storms can easily knock down poles, snap cables, and cause fires or overloads.
In regions like West and Central Africa, where rainy seasons are becoming more unpredictable, these failures are becoming regular. In some cases, transformer stations have exploded due to lightning strikes or water infiltration. Power lines sagging under extreme heat or corroded by saline air in coastal regions add to the problem.
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Energy Access Programs in Rural Areas Are Being Reversed
Across the continent, governments and NGOs have spent the last decade trying to expand electricity access to rural areas using solar mini-grids and decentralized systems. But these setups are now at risk.
Flooding and dust storms destroy solar panels, ruin battery storage units, and damage inverters. Extreme temperatures reduce solar panel efficiency and shorten equipment lifespans. With limited resources for maintenance, many rural setups break down and go unrepaired, reversing years of progress.
Communities that had just started to experience the benefits of electrification are being pushed back into darkness ironically by the very climate crisis that clean energy was meant to fight.
Also Read: How Cape Town’s Floods Has Affected Ordinary South Africans
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Rising Sea Levels Threaten Coastal Energy Facilities
Ports, oil refineries, and gas-powered plants are often located near the coast for easy shipping access. But rising sea levels, driven by climate change, are now threatening these facilities. Saltwater intrusion corrodes equipment, while storm surges breach barriers and cause flooding.
In cities like Lagos, Abidjan, and Dar es Salaam, coastal energy facilities are already dealing with more frequent maintenance needs and higher operating costs. Some power plants have had to shut down temporarily during high tides or storms, disrupting supply chains and putting urban electricity supply at risk.
This means that even the continent’s industrial and urban hubs long considered energy-secure are increasingly vulnerable.
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Economic and Development Goals are Jeopardized
Power disruptions caused by climate change are more than an inconvenience they’re a major economic setback. Small businesses suffer losses during blackouts. Hospitals, schools, and banks must invest in expensive backup generators. Large industries reduce production or halt operations entirely.
A 2023 report by the African Development Bank estimated that climate-related disruptions to energy systems are costing Africa 2–4% of its GDP annually. That’s billions of dollars lost money that could have funded new infrastructure, schools, and healthcare.
Without urgent upgrades to protect what already exists, the energy sector will continue to drain national budgets and stall progress toward industrialization and poverty reduction.
Also Read: Why South Africa Keeps Flooding Threatening lives
Existing energy systems can be strengthened to withstand climate shocks through smart investments and planning.
- Climate-proof infrastructure: Raise substation platforms, bury cables, reinforce dams, and flood-proof equipment.
- Diversify the grid: Reduce over-reliance on hydropower by expanding solar, wind, and geothermal projects.
- Upgrade technology: Use heat-tolerant materials, early warning systems, and real-time grid monitoring to anticipate and prevent failures.
- Regional energy cooperation: Share resources across borders to reduce the impact of local disruptions.
- Finance climate resilience: Governments, donors, and private sector investors must prioritize funding for infrastructure upgrades.
