Africa Microgrids
Microgrids and off-grid home solar systems in Africa are being rapidly deployed where the utility grid has failed. There are more people on the planet without electricity than when Edison first invented the lightbulb, and many of those people are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Two in every three Africans do not have access to electricity at all, instead relying on expensive and dangerous kerosene.
Given the savings over Kerosene, avoided infrastructure costs, and cascading benefits, the investment opportunity for Africa microgrids, and there is a policy push to fairly value and promote off-grid and microgrids in Saharan Africa.
MICROGRID PROJECTS IN AFRICA
The current situation presents a tremendous opportunity for microgrid developers to harness new technologies and business models to scale solutions, and many entrepreneurs have been busy doing just that.
Off the African coast is a hub for more traditional, island microgrids by companies like ABB. These microgrids are reducing their dependence on imported fuel by incorporated wind and solar generation to their existing microgrid infrastructure.
Acscension Island in Saint Helena has introduced 1650 kW of wind to its existing microgrid. Annobon Island in Equatorial Guinea boasts a 5 MW solar hybrid microgrid optimized by Princeton Power Systems. Graziosa blends solar, wind, gas turbines, NMC storage, and a Fuel Cell for its highly diversified microgrid. Robben Island, like Alcatraz in the US is a famous prison that also boasts an innovative microgrid for tourists. Graciosa in the Azores has slashed fuel imports with solar, wind, and NMC battery storage. Other African islands diversifying their microgrid mix include Santiago, Sal Island,
Africa’s mining sector have also been deploying microgrids in Africa to maintain production during frequent power outages in the middle of the continent. Electricity in the interior is often cheap thanks to hydropower and government subsidies, but reliability is low.
In South Africa, the Zwartkop Chrome Mine and and Thabazimbi Chrome Mine are operating on a gas-diesel hybrid microgrid. Also in South Africa, ABB is “drinking their own kool-aid’ with a microgrid with a large solar footprint on the ABB Longmeadow Facility.
Africa Microgrid News
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Africa And The Policy Push For Mini-Grid Growth
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The Investment Case for Mini-Grids and Off-Grids in Africa
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Caterpillar Takes Equity Stake In Africa Microgrid Company Powerhive
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From DOD to NGO: CleanSpark Partners With Global Impact To Accelerate Sustainable Development
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Microgrids in Africa: Perspectives From WorldWatch Institute and Navigant Research
This article was written by D.A. Barber for AFKInsider. It is being reposted with permission. With Africa’s push for rural electrification, microgrids — especially those that …
Renova, CleanSpark Partner to Develop Microgrid Projects Worldwide
Renova Power Networks and CleanSpark on January 5 announced a partnership to hasten development and deployment of renewable energy microgrids worldwide. Denver-based Renova has …
5 Unstoppable Drivers Of Microgrid Growth in 2016
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Paris Climate Agreement Aftermath – How climate finance can support development and climate objectives through renewable microgrids
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