Study on renewable energy and research and innovation capacity of sub-Saharan Africa.

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Sub-Saharan Africa offers important renewable energy sources that could be exploited to help the development of the region. This potential should be used alongside the development of the indigenous capacity for deploying and maintaining it (e.g. exploitation of the biomass feedstock resources, which is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable in the long run). This in turn, requires to raise the research and innovation (R&I) capacities in the region. However, the exact research capacities and needs are not well known, nor the social, economic and environmental impacts of different technologies. Therefore, it is highly desirable before putting forward any targeted R&I renewable energy topics for cooperation with sub-Saharan Africa to undertake a feasibility study. It will enable the formulation of a clear strategy on whether and how to undertake a research and innovation programme that would be equitable and beneficial to the region in the area of renewable energy.