摘要:SummaryFaced with interrelated challenges of climate change and energy crises, Africa’s future energy system orientation could be steered toward sustainable development. In this study, we contextualized diverging fossil fuels-dominated and renewable energy-based pathways toward sustainable development in Africa. A novel and sophisticated techno-economic energy modeling tool is used to describe the scope of the pathways in high geo-spatial and full hourly resolution for Africa covering the entire energy system. This study demonstrates that a renewable energy pathway is not only climate-compatible, but also delivers a lower cost system structure than alternative pathways. Our results show that Africa can leapfrog carbonization by using its low-cost renewable electricity and green hydrogen. Furthermore, Africa can become a self-sufficient green economy and an exporter of green fuels. Notably, solar photovoltaic-battery hybrid systems and electrolyzers are instrumental in achieving carbon-neutrality in Africa. This research presents a “true-zero emission” pathway for Africa.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•A true-zero emission pathway for Africa•PV-battery hybrid systems drive deep decarbonization•A cost-efficient and climate-compatible transition based on renewables•Africa can become a self-sufficient green economy and an exporter of green fuelsEnergy resources; Energy policy; Energy management; Energy Modeling