Technical Feasibility Study of Micro-Grid Integration to Electrify Rural Settlements of Sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is structured with approximately two-thirds settlers in rural communities. However, it is the least electrified region in the world with about half of its population lack access to not only electricity but also reliable electricity which both hinder the livelihood and productivity of the region. Electrification efforts by member nations have and are being done according to the energy policies towards attaining universal electrification. While the national grid utilities are at the forefront of this process, geographical, economic and time factors constrain the rate of electrification. As a case study, this paper focuses on electrification by integrating existing micro-grids into mini-grids to electrify currently unelectrified business and household settlements of Uutsathima village in Namibia, aiming at overwriting the hindering factors for grid extension. Results of this study indicate that micro-grid integration can cover the electrical demand in unelectrified remote areas and thus eliminate the delayed and costly grid extension implications. These findings can be duplicated in other Sub-Saharan regions providing the consumer electrical demands are fully assessed and best-case scenarios selected as per the custom area of the desired implementation.