Africa's Electricity Access Planners Embrace Geospatial Mapping for Enhanced Solutions
According to the IEA's data and analysis, off-grid systems accounted for over half of new connections in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022.
April 06, 2024. By Abha Rustagi
Despite recent advancements, electrification initiatives face new challenges exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, including a mounting debt crisis, financial struggles among utilities, and increased affordability issues. However, the study highlights progress in off-grid solutions, particularly through solar and battery based technologies with innovative business models, which are bridging the gap in access provision alongside grid extensions.
According to the IEA's data and analysis, off-grid systems accounted for over half of new connections in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022. However, achieving universal access requires greater scaling, hindered by traditional planning and customer acquisition methods, often reliant on labor-intensive village-by-village assessments.
To address this gap, the IEA, in collaboration with researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Electricity Growth and Use in Developing Economies, developed a model. This open-source tool utilizes satellite images and building footprints to map which buildings lack electricity access and estimate their energy needs. The model, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, significantly improves accuracy in identifying electrified buildings and estimating energy demand compared to existing tools.
The model's granular assessment aids planners, utilities, and off-grid solar companies in identifying target customers and communities more efficiently, reducing the need for extensive on-the-ground surveys and acquisition costs. By combining this model with advanced geographic information systems (GIS)-based tools, planners can conduct highly precise pre-feasibility studies for various electrification options, facilitating more accurate financial forecasts and spatial planning.
Moreover, the study reveals disparities in electricity consumption across electrified areas, indicating affordability and reliability challenges. Many households consume less electricity than basic benchmarks, highlighting the need for greater affordability and reliability to support essential activities. The IEA and its partners offer these insights to inform policy-making and investment decisions, aiming to accelerate electrification efforts across the continent.
The IEA's initiative, in collaboration with MIT and other partners, highlights the importance of leveraging technology and data-driven approaches to address energy access challenges. By providing openly accessible datasets and tools, such as the building-level electricity access and demand estimation model, the IEA aims to empower countries to develop tailored energy access strategies and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7).
This collaborative effort, supported by Power Africa, stresses the role of partnerships and capacity-building in refining energy access initiatives and maximizing the use of GIS tools to drive sustainable development in Africa.
please contact: contact@energetica-india.net.
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