Electricity supply, irregularities, and the prospect for solar energy and energy sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are faced with the problem of expanding urban growth and demographic shift, necessitating the need to achieve a sustainable rate of positive economic growth. To move toward a sustainable future, many reforms have been implemented, including in the energy sector. Reforms in the energy sector will lead to a secure future energy supply, open globalised energy market, as well as providing basic energy needs. Unfortunately electrical energy production within SSA countries is primarily by wood fueled power stations and large hydroschemes (with oil and gas to a lesser extent). Large hydropower systems are environmentally destructive, and the combustion of wood generates millions of tons of carbon dioxide and green house gas emissions. The recent price fluctuations of crude oil and natural gas and the inconsistent and insufficient power supply have further increased public dissatisfaction. This paper demonstrates how the SSA region with its natural resources is capable of producing a stable electrical energy supply sector through renewable energy technologies (RETs), extending electricity supply to off-grid areas via photovoltaics (PV) and maintaining a continuous energy supply, with no significant impact on the environment and detriment to health of the local population. The most common characteristics of weak and unstable grids in SSA countries and their energy generation are investigated. Distributed generation technologies for rural electrifications (PV off-grid systems) as well as the grid-connected PVs are evaluated. This paper also demonstrates the possibility and merits of promoting specific RETs such as combined solar thermal energy systems for hospital equipment sterilization and powering solar air-conditioning systems in SSA countries, thus offsetting dependence on current power supply networks.