By Quintin McCutcheon, global marketing director, Anglophone Africa at Schneider Electric
THE ongoing energy crisis has set back global progress on universal access to electricity. According to the newest IEA (International Energy Agency) World Energy Outlook data, 660 million people will still be without access to electricity in 2030, with 85% of those living in sub-Saharan Africa.
The good news is that the IEA report says microgrids are becoming the most cost-effective way to expand energy access in remote areas. Considering current scenarios, the IEA also predicts that by 2030, 25% of people who have access to electricity (in developing countries) will be powered by microgrids, fuelled by renewable energy sources such as solar.
For critical sectors and services such as healthcare or petrol stations on remote highways, access to resilient power sources is often a life-or-death scenario. A microgrid offers a feasible backup solution, intelligently generating and managing distributed energy resources (DERs), ensuring that during power outages, local organisations and communities can still generate and use electricity.
The level of access to electricity is different from country to country. However, in countries such as Nigeria and Myanmar, less than 60% of communities have access to electricity. For these communities, which are out of reach for the main grid, due to economic or locational reasons, installing microgrids is the simplest and fastest way in providing access to power.
A microgrid can also incorporate various renewable energy sources. With companies increasingly emphasising their climate and sustainability agendas, and the global push for decarbonisation, microgrids assist in meeting these sustainability targets.
The continued electrification of Africa
Electricity is the backbone of Africa’s new energy systems, powered increasingly by renewables. According to the IEA, Africa is home to 60% of the best solar resources globally, yet only 1% of installed solar PV capacity. That said, solar PV – already the cheapest source of power in many parts of Africa – is set to outcompete all sources continent-wide by 2030.
Universal access to affordable electricity, a goal set by 2030 in the SAS (Sustainable Africa Scenario), requires bringing connections to 90 million people a year, triple the rate of recent years.
Fortunately, there are success stories such as Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda which are on track to reach full access by 2030. The IEA detailed analysis shows that extending national grids is the least costly and most prudent option for almost 45% of those gaining access to 2030. In rural areas, where over 80% of the electricity-deprived live, microgrids and standalone systems, mostly solar-based, are the most viable solutions.
Moreover, renewables, including solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal will account for over 80% of new power generation capacity by 2030, according to SAS.
From an energy skills development, there’s also tremendous opportunity in Africa. The energy sector, and more particularly electricity and renewable energies, offer a lot of potential, especially in areas where access to energy is difficult and growing.
Tangible interventions
At Schneider Electric, we believe by equipping young people with skills and giving them the means to support their families, we can contribute to the growth of the local electricity and electrotechnical sectors. This, in turn, will improve quality of life and create sustainable jobs.
The Schneider Electric Foundation also provides long-term support for vocational and entrepreneurial training organisations.
