NAIROBI, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The 12th edition of the Power and Energy Africa 2025 kicked off in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Thursday amid growing momentum to accelerate the transition to renewable energy across the continent.

The three-day conference brought together government officials, energy industry executives, and more than 150 exhibitors from over 25 countries to showcase advanced products and technologies in the renewable energy sector.

In her opening remarks, Hilda Mpakany, acting director of the Energy Research and Development Directorate at the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, said the forum is a platform for global manufacturers, investors, and suppliers in green energy to connect with key stakeholders across East and Central Africa.

"Kenya is at the forefront of embracing renewable energy with over 85 percent of its electricity generated from geothermal, solar, and wind sources," Mpakany added.

She urged African countries to intensify efforts to exploit green energy sources in order to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, which have a negative environmental impact.

Duncan Njagi, regional director for East Africa at the Expo Group, the conference organizer, said the continent can accelerate the transition to clean energy by leveraging public-private partnerships to fund renewable energy projects.

He noted that Africa can also promote off-grid solutions such as solar systems for rural communities that are not connected to the national electricity grid. Enditem