The role of clean energy mini-grids in scaling-up access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa: the case study of Bissorã in Guinea-Bissau

Abstract

The lack of access to energy represents one of the biggest development challenges for Sub-Saharan Africa. This is even more pronounced in Guinea-Bissau, which faces the interlinked challenges of lack of access to energy and an unstable energy security environment. The country currently makes use of imported fossil fuels to produce its electricity. At the same time, solar represents one of its most abundant energy resources. This study posits the hypothesis: to what extend can decentralized, clean energy mini-grids be the most effective solution to increase electrification rates for certain peri-urban and rural areas in in Guinea-Bissau? The reason this study focuses on mini-grids is intrinsically linked to their technical capacity of supplying electricity levels that enable productive use of energy. In order to verify this assumption, a 500 kilowatt peak (kWp) hybrid photovoltaic (PV) mini-grid system, located in Bissorã, (in the Oio region of Guinea-Bissau) has been taken as an empirical example. The research methods for the literature review in this study have been based on primary and secondary sources, including site visits and conversations with various experts. Furthermore, building upon previous research and local surveys, the study has made extensive use of different energy simulation platforms, while analyzing all the relevant socio-economic, technical and financial criteria. Results have shown that electrification in the country can be upscaled cost-effectively through solar PV clean energy mini-grids (CEMGs), compared to the main grid extension, depending mainly on a given area’s population density and its distance from the grid. At the same time, there is still a lot of work to be done, in order to introduce a regulatory framework in place that regulates the mini-grid sector. In addition, the study recommends the creation of a relevant government organ to coordinate integrated energy planning. The study concludes that further research will be needed to properly assess the future impact of the CEMGs, and to provide evidence-based guidance on how to fine-tune and replicate them elsewhere in Guinea-Bissau.

The lack of access to energy represents one of the biggest development challenges forSub-Saharan Africa. This is even more pronounced in Guinea-Bissau, which faces theinterlinked challenges of lack of access to energy and an unstable energy security environment.The country currently makes use of imported fossil fuels to produce its electricity. At the sametime, solar represents one of its most abundant energy resources. This study posits thehypothesis: to what extend can decentralized, clean energy mini-grids be the most effectivesolution to increase electrification rates for certain peri-urban and rural areas in in GuineaBissau? The reason this study focuses on mini-grids is intrinsically linked to their technicalcapacity of supplying electricity levels that enable productive use of energy. In order to verifythis assumption, a 500 kilowatt peak (kWp) hybrid photovoltaic (PV) mini-grid system, locatedin Bissorã, (in the Oio region of Guinea-Bissau) has been taken as an empirical example. Theresearch methods for the literature review in this study have been based on primary andsecondary sources, including site visits and conversations with various experts. Furthermore,building upon previous research and localsurveys, the study has made extensive use of differentenergy simulation platforms, while analyzing all the relevant socio-economic, technical andfinancial criteria.Results have shown that electrification in the country can be upscaled cost-effectivelythrough solar PV clean energy mini-grids (CEMGs), compared to the main grid extension,depending mainly on a given area’s population density and its distance from the grid. At thesame time, there is still a lot of work to be done, in order to introduce a regulatory frameworkin place that regulates the mini-grid sector. In addition, the study recommends the creation of arelevant government organ to coordinate integrated energy planning. The study concludes thatfurther research will be needed to properly assess the future impact of the CEMGs, and toprovide evidence-based guidance on how to fine-tune and replicate them elsewhere in GuineaBissau.