Mini-Grid or Grid Extension? The Strategies for Electrification Schemes Concerning Population Density in Sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa is the second-largest in the world and homes an estimated of quarter the world’s population. While the region has the fastest-growing population, it is dominated by scattered settlements between cities, towns, and villages. To date, SSA is the least electrified region in the world with lower electrification rates in its developed regions than in the least electrified regions in developed countries. This study uses Namibia, the least SSA populated country to assess the viability of mini-grids versus grid extension based on its density. Two main electrification options were considered within the presented work: grid extensions and mini-grids. The method applied in this paper follows various features starting from data collection from the field, literature review, geospatial approach to detailed techno-economic and social analysis. Based on the techno-economic and social analysis, the presented study attempted to visualize electrification scenarios at the country level. Results show the viability of off-grid electrification in remote, medium densely populated areas over grid extension at faster times and with lesser investment costs.