Abstract
Energy poverty, in particular, the lack of access to electricity, is a chronic impediment to sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting over one billion people. Recently, electrification efforts have bifurcated into two pathways: grid extension/enhancement and off‑grid. Expanding and enhancing the existing national grid is the de facto approach, but is struggling to keep up with growing populations and demand in many countries. Off-grid solutions such as solar home systems and mini-grids are seen as a way to ‘leap frog’ the national grid, but face distribution, affordability, and regulatory challenges. This article explores each electrification pathway through the lens of a traditional power system planner. This perspective shows that implicit planning assumptions about cost recovery, procurement, reliability requirements, economic benefit, what entities are involved, and the role of renewable energy require re‑visiting and re-invention in the sub‑Saharan African context.
Highlights
The electrification rate of households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is presently at 37 per cent (IEA and World Bank 2017)
Electricity underpins many broader development goals, and its positive association with education, health, and economic prosperity has been noted in existing literature (IEA and World Bank 2017; Franco et al 2017; Socvacool and Ryan 2016; White et al 2008)
Traditional assumptions and notions of planning as might be followed in countries with mature power systems with universal access are challenged in the context of
Summary
The electrification rate of households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is presently at 37 per cent (IEA and World Bank 2017). A salient difference in power system planning in SSA is the notion that electricity supply can be provided by extension of the national grid, and by off-grid systems.
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