THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
The 2030 energy goals can only be achieved by decentralized energy supply
Microgrids: an effective tool in developing countries by Martin Schuster, Head Cross Power, Pfisterer Holding AG, Winterbach
The prerequisites for the development of African and Asian countries are political stability, food, and energy supply. Providing energy has been recognized as a key factor by many organisations, and set as a top priority, often with ambitious aims. Let’s take the example of Africa. Electrification of sub-Saharan countries is expected to have reached a high level by 2030. However, from today’s view, these goals will not be achieved. This article presents an analysis of a few of the reasons for this as well as some possible solutions. For sure, the possibilities of off-grid and on-grid power supply are evaluated as well.
Current situation 1.2 billion people around the world have no access to electrical networks and are therefore dependant on inefficient and sometimes dangerous alternatives such as kerosene lamps, candles and car batteries. 95% of these people live in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia. African countries suffer most clearly from this very low electrification rate. Moreover, a very critical fact is the insufficient security of supply in existing grid connections. The latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) points out a non-availability of grids in Sub-Saharan Africa of 540 hours per year on average. Another factor that weighs heavily on the development of countries is the number of schools without electricity. Apart from political instability, which also has a major impact on the power supply structure, whether public or private, population growth can also be considered as problem. Currently, the
Percentage of the population without grid connection
58
expansion of energy capacity is virtually identical to the population growth. But nowadays investments are made for the most part in large power stations. The power is used in large cities, industrial companies, and also large mines, whereas rural areas continue to be disregarded and not much is invested in the construction of grids.
New possibilities At this point, the big central solution – conventional large power stations with nationwide grids like in Europe – is a phase that should be skipped in Africa, whose future lies in a multitude of small solutions. An excellent example of this leapfrogging of technical stages of development is mobile telephony which has spread like wildfire. It would never have been possible to connect people all over the continent to conventional fixed-line telephone networks. Energy supply in Africa must follow that pattern, jump from the off-grid situation into the modern solution with small decentralized energy systems. This opportunity is confirmed by an Association of German Engeneers (VDI) study conducted in 2015. Even for Germany, if we were starting from scratch again, a cellular network of connected micro-grids would be the optimum solution.
Renewable energies on the rise In recent years, technological development has also advanced by leaps and bounds in the field of decentralized energy supply. Almost perfect arrangements for decentralized energy supply systems are feasible thanks to the continued drop in prices for photovoltaic installations and for batteries. Renewable energy such as solar and wind are increasingly being used. Energy can be stored in batteries, and diesel generator sets are only required as a backup solution. In Southern Africa, these decentralized hybrid units can be operated almost exclusively with renewable energy. This is a totally environmentally friendly and nearly CO2-free mode of energy production. These decentralized hybrid systems Source: World Bank, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
