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Solar energy in Africa will meet the needs of 600 million people
Solar energy in Africa meets the annual electricity needs of off-grid households for as little as 56 dollars per year, thanks to cost reduction and technology improvements.
From 2012 to today costs for solar plants in Africa fell by 61 percent. This was unimaginable a few years ago, but today it is the prerequisite to promote the spread of photovoltaic plants on a large scale in the continent and bring clean electricity to 600 million African people.
There are just a few regions on Earth that can rely on a solar irradiation like that of African countries. IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, in its new report entitled Solar PV in Africa: costs and markets, explains that solar energy is spreading throughout Africa and that this is a turning point for the continent’s (sustainable) development.
Solar energy lights up Africa
Africa’s total installed capacity of solar PV jumped from around 500 MW in 2013 to around 1,330 MW in 2014 and 2,100 MW at the end of 2015, according to IRENA. Therefore, it more than quadrupled in two years. This solar revolution could be home to more than 70 GW of solar PV capacity by 2030.
In absolute terms, the current installed capacity is still limited compared to other countries such as Germany, but Africa’s potential is considerable. This growth confirms that energy poverty can’t be eradicated using low-cost fossil fuels including coal, gas and oil.
“Africa’s solar potential is enormous, with solar irradiation levels up to 117 per cent higher than in Germany, the country with the highest installed solar power capacity. It has never been more possible, and less expensive for Africa to realise this potential”, IRENA’s Director-General Adnan Amin commented.
Energy and economic development
Africa will power its future with solar photovoltaics and other renewables, given that their costs are decreasing and becoming increasingly competitive than those of fossil fuels. Solar energy in Africa could rapidly boom thanks to recent and expected cost reductions in renewable power generation technologies and support policies adopted by some of the continent’s countries. If since 2012 the cost of solar energy in Africa dropped by 61 percent, a similar cost reduction can occur in the next decade.
Cost reduction and solar irradiation present a great opportunity for Africa. According to the Agency, it would take just 56 dollars a year to light up an African household. “Both grid-connected and off-grid solar PV now offer a cost-competitive means to meet rising energy needs and bring electricity to the 600 million Africans who currently lack access”, Amin said.
This doesn’t take into account the improvement in the quality of energy services using LED lights. A 2 W LED light produces around 380-400 lumens of light compared to 8-40 lumens for a kerosene wick lamp. This makes an enormous difference in terms of quality of life as well as reduction of air pollution. In India, where the national railways planned to install new solar plants in the country’s remotest railway stations, new measures to save energy and water have been adopted and new low-cost lighting systems are now used thanks to LED technology.
The applications of solar energy in Africa
According to IRENA, solar energy is a technology particularly suitable for Africa. On-grid as well as off-grid solar plants can be built there to meet the needs of households or small villages. This technology has another advantage: project lead times are among the shortest of any power generation technology and can be deployed much more rapidly than many other generation options. A significant benefit given the pressing need across Africa for low-cost and easily-accessible electricity.
Today there are a range of applications for solar PV to promote productive activities. These include thermal collectors to power a solar dryer for the dehydration of fruits and vegetables or for cleaning threshed agricultural products but also technology where PV plants are used to power telecommunication stations in a continent where over 700 million people have access to mobile phones.
Solar energy in Africa could bring about an energy revolution and contribute to mark an important stage in the development of the African continent.
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