Beyond Deployment: Sustaining Renewable Energy Investments and the Role of Circular Economy Approaches

Africa’s clean-energy transition is gaining momentum, driven by growing investment in solar power, battery storage, decentralized energy systems and electric mobility. However, expanding renewable energy capacity alone does not guarantee sustainable development outcomes. Ensuring the long-term performance and value of these investments requires greater attention to maintenance, repair, reuse, recycling and responsible material recovery. Integrating these considerations throughout the technology lifecycle is essential to maximizing economic and development benefits while creating opportunities for local industries, skills development and job creation.

The session will draw on Towards a Sustainable Energy Future: Evaluation of the African Development Bank’s Support for Renewable Energy (2012–2021), an independent evaluation of 156 interventions totaling approximately UA 8 billion. The evaluation used a theory-based mixed-methods approach, including portfolio and document reviews, interviews with about 250 stakeholders, ten country case studies, three cluster evaluations (hydropower, wind and solar) and 35 intervention analytical grids or other project-level evaluations.

The evaluation found that Bank support contributed to expanding renewable energy generation capacity and mobilize investment. However, the long-term sustainability of these achievements remained a concern. In particular, inadequate maintenance arrangements, utilities’ financial difficulties, limited institutional capacity and unresolved environmental risks threatened the sustainability of long-term development benefits. While the evaluation did not explicitly assess circular economy practices, second-life technologies or end-of-life material recovery, its findings highlight the importance of adopting a lifecycle perspective to safeguard renewable energy investments and sustain their benefits. These dimensions will be explored through complementary technical expertise and industry experience, based on the companion COP31 concept, “From Deployment to Lifecycle Value: Building Africa’s Circular Clean-Energy Transition,” jointly developed by the AfDB’s Energy and Green Growth Complex, the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and the Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC).

Building on this evidence, the session will explore how circular economy approaches can help Africa move beyond technology deployment towards maximizing the long-term value of renewable energy investments. Discussions will focus on integrating Discussions will focus on integrating lifecycle considerations into project planning, design and procurement; strengthening maintenance, repair, refurbishment and reuse; promoting responsible recycling and material recovery; developing appropriate standards, testing and traceability systems; mobilizing lifecycle financing; and strengthening local technical skills and industrial capabilities.

Ultimately, the session seeks to bridge the gap between evidence on the sustainability of renewable energy investments and the forward-looking circular economy agenda, translating lessons into more resilient, resource-efficient and sustainable clean-energy systems for Africa.