Energy options in rural Africa:

solar and diesel distributed systems

vs
grid extension
S. Szab, K. Bodis, T. Huld, I. Pinedo-Pascua, U. Tromboni and
Magda Moner-Girona
Joint Research Centre, European Commission

OUTLINE
Grid Status in Africa
Diesel and conventional power in Africa
Potential of Renewables in Africa
Socio-economic layers
Least-cost optimization and resulting maps
AFRETEP tool

OUTLINE
Grid Status in Africa
Diesel and conventional power in Africa
Potential of Renewables in Africa
Socio-economic layers
Least-cost optimization and resulting maps
AFRETEP tool

Reliability of African grid infrastructure

Source: Data compiled from Africas Infrastructure Infrastructure: A Time for Transformation, Agence Franaise de
Dveloppement and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, Washington, USA, 2010

Blackout Time for African grid infrastructure

Source: Data compiled from Africas Infrastructure Infrastructure: A Time for Transformation, Agence Franaise de
Dveloppement and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, Washington, USA, 2010

Transmission lines at continental level

OUTLINE
Grid Status in Africa
Diesel and conventional power in Africa
Potential of Renewables in Africa
Socio-economic layers
Least-cost optimization and resulting maps
AFRETEP tool

Diesel generated electricity cost including transport

OUTLINE
Grid Status in Africa
Diesel and conventional power in Africa
Potential of Renewables in Africa
Socio-economic layers
Least-cost optimization and resulting maps
AFRETEP tool

Open access interactive tools

Expert group meeting Potential of renewable energy options in off-grid areas in Africa: importance of mini-grid energy systems

http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/

Source: M. Henry FP7 CarboAfrica project

OUTLINE
Grid Status in Africa
Diesel and conventional power in Africa
Potential of Renewables in Africa
Socio-economic layers
Least-cost optimization and resulting maps
AFRETEP tool

Population density and settlements >1000 inhabitants

Travel distance

OUTLINE
Grid Status in Africa
Diesel and conventional power in Africa
Potential of Renewables in Africa
Socio-economic layers
Least-cost optimization and resulting maps
AFRETEP tool

MAPPING TOOLS: Processing data layers and

optimization model
Data layers used for the analysis
-Administrative areas, boundaries and names
-Population and populated places
-Power plants and transmission lines
-Travel time to major cities
-National diesel prices
-PV electricity production cost
-Digital Elevation Model
-ETRS Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area
Least-cost optimization applied for solar,
diesel, grid extension

Expert group meeting Potential of renewable energy options in off-grid areas in Africa: importance of mini-grid energy systems

Expert group meeting Potential of renewable energy options in off-grid areas in Africa: importance of mini-grid energy systems

Expert group meeting Potential of renewable energy options in off-grid areas in Africa: importance of mini-grid energy systems

Expert group meeting Potential of renewable energy options in off-grid areas in Africa: importance of mini-grid energy systems

Expert group meeting Potential of renewable energy options in off-grid areas in Africa: importance of mini-grid energy systems

Expert group meeting Potential of renewable energy options in off-grid areas in Africa: importance of mini-grid energy systems

Expert group meeting Potential of renewable energy options in off-grid areas in Africa: importance of mini-grid energy systems

OUTLINE
Grid Status in Africa
Diesel and conventional power in Africa
Potential of Renewables in Africa
Socio-economic layers
Least-cost optimization and resulting maps
AFRETEP tool

AFRETEP Information systems

For further information

The harmonized data set of geographical information, compiled and applied for the
evaluation and mapping are available at the African Renewable Energy Technology
Platform (AFRETEP) website (http://www.euei.net/processed-gis-data)

Szab, S., Bdis, K., Huld, T., Moner-Girona, M. Energy solutions in rural Africa:
mapping electrification costs of distributed solar and diesel generation versus grid
extension, Environmental Research Letters Vol. 6, (2011)

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