Solar Power – Africa’s long-term Energy solution
Energy Access in Africa
Over one billion people worldwide lack access to electricity. and In Sub Sahara Africa (SSA), over 620 million people, and approximately 60% of the businesses, do not have access to reliable power. Any real development and progress in Africa will only be attained with sustainable access to electricity.
Overview of the Solar Energy Industry in Africa
Africa is a viable location for solar power installation and usage, especially with the price of solar power technology and equipment getting cheaper.
The solar power industry is a viable option for all African countries based on several factors:
1. Africa has an abundance of sunshine to provide a viable resource for solar power.
2. Most countries in Africa have an average of 12 hours of daylight. Countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa had over 12 hours of daylight in 2016, according to USNO - Africa Universal Time.
3. The price for solar power infrastructure has gone down considerably since its early days.
4. Solar power presents an opportunity for small and mid-sized organizations as well as some non-profit organizations to provide the infrastructure and service to customers. This is unlike the traditional forms of power energy, which require significant investment and large organizations.
The one question to ask is why it has taken some of the governments of Africa, so long to jump on the Solar Power energy bandwagon? And why, even with the move forward, there are still some African countries that have not fully adopted and implemented a solar power program? One would think that with the natural resource for solar power in such abundance on the African continent, African countries would be making full use of this form of alternative energy
On the other hand, it may be better that they have not made the leap till now. Like the communications field in Africa, which leapfrogged over communications infrastructure and adopted and embraced mobile communications at the time the price was lower and accessibility greater, this may be the right time for Africa to adopt and embrace this alternative energy which can now be made available to a wide audience.
Past and current barriers and problems for establishing Solar Power in Africa
1. Until recently, investment in solar power infrastructure, materials and installation was expensive. However, with the introduction of new technology, cheaper resources and equipment, solar power is becoming more accessible and cheaper. New programs are being initiated that may make alternative energy use even cheaper for the poorer population of the continent.
2. The availability of petroleum and coal, traditional sources, in some countries has meant that the installation, support and use of solar power and establishing solar power infrastructure has not been a priority in the past.
3. With more money flowing in from petroleum and other current energy resources, those governments and the energy industry itself did not feel the need to pursue less expensive resources. The drop-in petroleum prices and loss of revenue is helping to change that thinking.
4. Another problem is that both the government and citizens of the African countries, though open to adopting new technology, have been very slow about adopting changes to their electrical supply. They have gotten used to the old ways in which electricity has been delivered with frequent cuts in power and an unreliable resource in some of these African countries.
5. The absence of a coordinated regulatory and legal framework, in some of the African countries, is an ongoing barrier.
References
Renewable energy in Africa
Green Mini Grid Country Support Programmes - Expression of Interest- African Development Bank - Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa