Page 34 - Energize September 2022

Power developments in Africa

Compiled by Roger Lilley, Now Media

Microgrids to displace diesel generators On the road to sustainable
mobility
The American electricity provider Husk Power has launched the “Sunshot” initiative in Nigeria.
Sunshot aims to connect 2-million people to the national electricity grid by 2026 through the In a recently published report, “Preparing for
deployment of 500 solar-powered microgrids. The programme will also provide clean electricity to the Green Automotive Transition in Africa
8000 businesses, 700 public clinics, 200 private hospitals and 100 public schools. According to Husk, and the Middle East”, General Motors and
this initiative is expected to help replace 25 000 diesel generators. This ambition may be possible the Oxford Business Group demonstrate the
since the company plans to have 22 green mini-grids up and running in Nigeria by December 2022. importance of accelerating electric mobility
in Africa. The continent is currently suffering
Kenya to benefit from “clean” Solar-powered sanitation the effects of climate change. The report
power system explores the role that electric vehicles could
play in reducing CO 2 emissions from fossil-
A power purchase agreement has been signed Amea Power and GreenPower Morocco will fuel powered vehicles. Traffic congestion in
between state-owned Ethiopian Electric Power build a 34 MW solar PV plant in Morocco’s African cities produces dangerous levels of
(EEP) and Kenya Power. The partnership, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region to air pollution for about 1,4-billion Africans, or
which comes into effect, aims to import clean power the local water utility’s facilities. 18% of the world’s population, according to a
electricity generated in Ethiopia to Kenya. An The annual capacity of this solar park is World Bank estimate.
agreement between the heads of Ethiopian estimated at 67 GWh per year, enough
Electric Power (EEP) and Kenya Power assures power to supply at least 8000 Moroccan Extra power for COP27 host
Kenyans of a maximum firm capacity of 200 households, but will be used exclusively city
MW for the first three years. Thereafter, for powering sanitation services and the
Kenya is to purchase up to 400 MW of firm provision of drinking water. The solar power Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh will receive a
capacity from EEP. Kenya’s electricity demand plant should enable Amea Power to reduce new 280 kW solar power plant. Egyptian
is estimated at 2,051 MW according to Kenya its CO 2 emissions by 30 000 tons and its oil authorities are currently preparing a call for
Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). emissions by 5000 tons per year. tenders. The plant will be used to power the
city’s museum which is very popular with
EV infrastructure grows in West Africa tourists. Sharm el-Sheikh is the host city of
the United Nations Conference of the Parties
The state-owned company Kenya Power has announced the installation of electric vehicle (COP 27) on climate change to be held in
charging stations throughout the country. The operation will begin in the capital Nairobi and November 2022. The project adds to an
Nakuru County where people are exposed to air pollution. The facilities, which will be operational earlier project built by Schneider Electric,
by 2023, will power 50 000 buses and 2-million motorcycles with electricity supplied by Kenya which is already providing clean energy to
Power. These stations will contribute to the growth of the EV market in Kenya (which is currently 2000 people while avoiding 3000 tonnes of
affected by soaring fuel prices) since electric buses are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel ones. CO 2 emissions.

Fighting malaria with solar Strengthening national Ghanaian solar-powered water
power electrification project

About 3,5 million cases of malaria are Sun Africa is to install solar energy The Netherlands Development Organisation
reported in Kenya each year. A new solar- production systems in a dozen Nigerian (SNV) is launching the construction of ten
powered system called “MTego” will enable locations which are poorly served by the solar-powered water supply systems in the
the East African country to more effectively national electricity network. The project, Upper West Region of Ghana as part of its
combat the mosquitoes attracted by the funded by a $1,5-billion loan from Exim Healthy Future for All (HF4A) project. The
drought. According to the World Health Bank, comes at a time when 85-million new solar-powered facilities will improve
Organisation, malaria causes 627 000 deaths people do not have access to electricity in the drinking water supply for 2000 people.
each year worldwide, 96% of which are in Africa’s most populous country. Although The future systems will be equipped with
Africa. Faced with this situation, which is Nigeria has the largest economy in pumping, storage and distribution facilities
exacerbated by the global warming affecting Africa, it has an electricity access rate of for potable water, powered by solar panels.
Kenya, the Dutch start-up PreMal, based in 60%, with only 34% in rural areas. Other With an estimated population of 31,7-million,
Nairobi, is developing “MTego”, a mosquito projects, including Bboxx, aim to electrify more than 3-million people still lack access to
trap which runs on solar energy and uses no at least an additional 20-million rural quality drinking water in Ghana, according to
insecticides. Nigerians by 2030. a 2018 report.

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