Since energy is the lifeblood of modern societies and economies, the development and management of energy resources play a critical role in achieving sustainable development. The importance of this is reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is not only a commitment in SDG 7 that member states would try to ensure “access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”, but is recognized as a key in achieving all the SDGs. Efforts to increase and improve energy access will be important to various global targets e.g. education, industrialization, poverty reduction, health and economic growth. Increasing energy access should also be considered to address climate change e.g. SDG 13 on climate action and the Paris climate agreement. Under this circumstance, the centre of energy policy would no longer be the Carbon-intensive economic development but the development of clean and renewable sources. The energy challenge is particular severe in sub-Saharan Africa. Although in recent years there are certain achievement made in electrification in Africa, many other efforts and further actions need to be done to address these problems. In order to tackle energy poverty and create modern, sustainable energy systems in Africa and to improve the livelihoods and economies of Africa, ambitious policy efforts should be done.  Africa has a large energy potential. It not only has a large amount of fossil fuel reserves, it also has abundant biomass, wind, solar, hydro-power resources.