Rural electrification

PV-diesel hybrid minigrid: Reliable and flexible solution for village electrification

What is rural electrification?

Rural electrification makes it possible to make electricity available to isolated sites, rural regions or remote regions.

Electrifying an isolated region can be done via several means:

• the electricity network: this solution is not ideal when the population density is very low

• the diesel generator or generator: the cost of use is quite high, due to the price of diesel in isolated regions

• photovoltaic solar: using solar energy is the ideal solution since it is free energy. The sun is widely present in rural regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The absence of electricity is a real obstacle to economic development. A true engine of wealth creation, electricity is synonymous with prosperity for all. Solar energy, like other renewable energies, can significantly contribute to the economic and social development of developing countries. Today, nearly 1.3 billion people around the world, many of whom live in isolated regions, still lack access to electricity and clean water.

Access to electricity in Africa

In 2014, only 37.4% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa had access to electricity (compared to 23.4% in 1990). In rural areas, the rate of access to electricity is below 10%.

Beyond the problem of access to the electricity network, the resulting issue is just as important: the quality of the electricity network.

Among African households connected to the electricity network: –

• 25% have a reliable electricity network and therefore continuous electricity

• 19% have an electricity network that never works or less than half the time Electric energy is essential to ensure people’s access to drinking water, education and healthcare. To improve the basic needs of populations, access to electricity is a key issue: food security, development of modern agriculture, improvement of food hygiene via refrigeration, better availability of medical equipment, etc.

But this also represents an economic challenge for the continent: longer working hours, reduced load shedding, more reliable communication, etc. In this economic context, the African Development Bank estimates that energy shortages and power outages represent 2% of the continent’s GDP.

Connecting the African continent to electricity could connect Africa to the global economic network.

Access to electricity in Nigeria (according to Africa Progress Panel)

93 million inhabitants not connected to electricity

25 million inhabitants connected to electricity, with limited access

55 million inhabitants connected to electricity

Access to electricity in the Republic of Congo (according to Africa Progress Panel)

58 million inhabitants not connected to electricity

1 million inhabitants connected to electricity, with limited access

8 million inhabitants connected to electricity

Access to electricity in Ethiopia (according to Africa Progress Panel)

67 million inhabitants not connected to electricity

3 million residents connected to electricity, with limited access

24 million inhabitants connected to electricity

Ethiopia (94 million inhabitants) consumes a third of the electricity used in the city of Washington DC in the USA (600,000 inhabitants).

Our solutions for rural electrification

With solar panel prices falling, PV-diesel hybrid mini-grids are attracting increasing attention among rural electrification institutions and funders. The aim is to offset rising fuel prices, reduce operating costs and provide better service than traditional systems based on a single source. The combination of technologies indeed offers interesting opportunities to overcome certain technical limitations.

Our know-how allows us to meet the requirements of various organizations, governments, banks and development agencies.