Nancy Wangari
At the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town this year, energy leaders from across the continent gathered to discuss sustainable energy as one of the continent’s greatest opportunities. The talks centered on building reliable, equitable and sustainable energy systems. Among the voices shaping these conversations was Nancy Wangari, a Project Engineer specializing in energy infrastructure in East Africa, notably the Menengai Geothermal Power Plant. A 2024 E4C Fellow and now a 2025 Managing Fellow, Ms. Wangari attended the Forum as a sponsored delegate, bringing her engineering experience to that international forum.
In this interview, Ms. Wangari reflects on what stood out to her, from the rise of hybrid mini-grids and waste-to-energy innovations, to the critical role of cross-border collaboration and public-private partnerships. She also shares candid insights on the challenges engineers face in balancing technical excellence with social impact, and why Africa’s energy transition must chart its own path rather than replicate global models.
“Africa does not need copied blueprints; it needs creative solutions that work with local materials, and limited infrastructure. Young engineers are already contributing by building solar irrigation kits, pay-as-you-go metering platforms, and productive-use technologies. The challenge is not talent,” Ms. Wangari said.
This is a lightly edited version of her views on the forum and the state of sustainable energy development in Africa.
E4C: What were your takeaways from the forum?
NW: The forum highlighted how central energy is to nearly every development challenge on the continent. From electrification gaps in rural areas to grid instability in urban centers, the conversations underscored that energy access is a precondition for social progress and economic transformation. What stood out most was the growing emphasis on systems thinking. Rather than viewing energy in isolation, stakeholders are increasingly framing it as part of a wider ecosystem that encompasses finance, governance, climate, and community livelihoods. The convergence of actors—governments, private firms, financiers, and civil society—showed how complex, but also how possible, coordinated progress can be.
E4C: Were there standout projects that caught your attention?
NW: A few projects were compelling. Hybrid mini-grids designed for scalability in off-grid areas have matured technically and are being implemented in more countries. Innovations in distributed battery storage are also reducing dependence on inconsistent grid supply. I was also drawn to emerging work on clean cooking and waste-to-energy systems that use locally available materials. These technologies are not headline-grabbing, but they are directly relevant to the day-to-day energy realities of African households. At the Youth Energy Summit, some of these solutions were being developed by early-stage ventures already piloting them in rural settings, which made the discussions far more grounded.
E4C: How did the forum shape your perspective on Africa’s sustainable energy transition?
NW: It confirmed that Africa’s transition must be about more than just switching fuels. It is a structural transformation. Energy access needs to be universal, affordable, and sustainable, but it must also reflect the continent’s social and economic context. The summit challenged the idea that Africa should simply follow existing global energy pathways. Instead, it made clear that we need to create our models—ones that prioritize equity, reliability, and resilience. For me, it deepened the understanding that energy systems are not just technical grids; they are also political, cultural, and economic infrastructures.
E4C: How are engineers addressing the challenge of balancing energy access with decarbonization?
NW: There is growing attention to contextual design; the phrase I kept hearing was “fit-for-context.” Engineers are building modular systems that work at small scales and can expand as demand grows. Many are also integrating climate resilience into system design by considering water scarcity, land degradation, or grid fragility. There are efforts to bridge technical design with user-centered insights, especially where systems interface directly with communities. However, access to quality data and design tools remains uneven. Some of the most impactful work is being done where engineers are collaborating across disciplines, combining infrastructure with insights from energy economics, policy, and even anthropology.
E4C: How important is cross-border collaboration in achieving Africa’s sustainable energy goals?
NW: It is fundamental. Energy resources are unevenly distributed across the continent, while demand is rising everywhere. Effective cross-border infrastructure, like transmission lines and power pools, can improve reliability, drive down costs, and optimize resource use. Panels on initiatives like the Africa Single Electricity Market demonstrated the benefits of integrated planning, but also highlighted the political and regulatory complexities. Beyond technical infrastructure, collaboration is also needed in data sharing, harmonized standards, and capacity-building. It became clear that no country can build a resilient energy system in isolation.
E4C: What role do public-private partnerships play in scaling energy infrastructure?
NW: A critical one. I learned that most successful large-scale energy projects in Africa today are anchored in PPPs, especially those backed by Development Financial Institutions. But the structure of those partnerships matters a lot. Transparency, risk-sharing, and community involvement must be baked in from day one. The Forum (Africa Energy Summit) emphasized that governments alone can’t carry the financial burden of electrifying the continent. But when the private sector comes in, we need to ensure alignment with social and environmental priorities, not just profit.
Nancy Wangari on stage at the Africa Energy Forum 2025 in Cape Town. Photo: Energy News Network
E4C: How is sustainability being integrated into large-scale energy projects across the continent?
NW: Environmental and social considerations are becoming more prominent. Large-scale projects are now more likely to include sustainability assessments not only as compliance requirements but as design inputs. In some hydropower and solar projects, there is an effort to collaborate with communities through local job creation, benefit-sharing agreements, or ecological restoration. However, there remains variation in how rigorously sustainability is defined and enforced. Sustainability is being understood not only in environmental terms, but also through the lens of economic viability, governance, and long-term community acceptance.
E4C: What challenges do engineers face when designing for both environmental and social impact?
NW: Engineers often face pressure to deliver quickly and cost-effectively, which can conflict with more participatory or inclusive processes. Balancing technical soundness with social appropriateness is difficult when timelines are tight and funding is limited. In many cases, engineers are not trained in community engagement, and yet they are tasked with negotiating complex local dynamics. This gap is particularly visible in large infrastructure projects where failure to secure community buy-in has led to delays or even abandonment. One clear lesson from the summit is that technical excellence must be paired with listening and adaptability.
E4C: How can Africa ensure a just energy transition that includes marginalized communities?
NW: First is by beginning with access. Marginalized communities are often left out of national electrification plans or are last in line for upgrades. Policies must deliberately target these areas through subsidies for mini-grids, targeted financing for clean cooking solutions, and strong inclusion clauses in energy tenders. At the summit, it was encouraging to hear from initiatives that prioritize energy access as a tool for improving education, health, and livelihoods. Justice also means building local capacity, not just importing technology but enabling communities to maintain, own, and benefit from energy systems over time.
E4C: What trends do you foresee shaping Africa’s energy landscape over the next decade?
NW: We’re witnessing a dynamic shift marked by the expansion of decentralized energy systems, the scaling of energy-as-a-service models enabled by digital payments, and the growth of energy storage alongside local battery manufacturing. Regional power pools and infrastructure corridors are playing an increasingly strategic role, while emerging policy frameworks are linking energy access to broader development goals in agriculture, education, and health. Notably, youth-led clean energy ventures are gaining momentum, delivering scalable, context-relevant solutions in off-grid and peri-urban communities.
E4C: How can young engineers and innovators contribute meaningfully to the continent’s energy future?
NW: By designing for reality rather than replication. Africa does not need copied blueprints; it needs creative solutions that work with local materials, local knowledge, and limited infrastructure. Young engineers are already contributing by building solar irrigation kits, pay-as-you-go metering platforms, and productive-use technologies. The challenge is not talent, but access to mentorship, funding, and networks. Initiatives like the Youth Energy Summit show that with the right support, these innovators can build systems that are technically sound and socially rooted.
About the Author
Mercy C. Wanjiku Nduati is the Engineering for Change Editorial Fellow for 2025. She also works on the editorial staff of the Vennomax Media Network that publishes the Industrial Journal magazine. And she has written for the magazine Kenya Engineer, published by the Institution of Engineers in Kenya. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and media from Egerton University.
