Off-Grid Living in Africa
It’s always great to be able to report unequivocally good news, and this is such a story. As the cost of solar PV continues to plummet, many Africans are finding that this represents a far better–and less expensive–solution than kerosene. The implications are enormous, insofar as there are about 600 million people living off-grid on the continent, and the pollution created from petroleum consumed in this fashion is by far heaviest per kWh of any resource on Earth, not to mention the most noxious to human heath.
From Reuters: “About 60 million people may be using off-grid renewable electricity of some kind in Africa. That is about 10 percent of those living off–grid,” IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin said at a recent off-grid renewable energy conference in Nairobi.
Off-grid PV has improved the quality of life for many people in Africa and in other places too. Even a couple small LED lights are very helpful. Small LED lights powered from PV systems can be more economical than kerosene lights. They are safer and, because they produce no pollution on site, they are more healthful. Also, because recharging cell phones and notebook computers doesn’t require much power, off-grid PV power can do the job.
Where larger amounts of power are required, such as for operating refrigerators or washing machines, off-grid PV systems are generally too expensive for most people who have no grid access.
We must also stop using fossil fuels for cooking. That generally means using electric stoves. Unfortunately, the power required by electric stoves generally makes PV impractical for that purpose. Thus, the environmental damage and pollution done by cooking with wood will continue for some time.
Craig,
I’m sure this is good news, but I’m not sure that the people in your photo will benefit from a nice new solar power system, their priorities are more getting food, a roof, clean water and sewerage.
Protection by law and order, along with stable government would be a start !
But I know what you mean. We are funding a pilot project for small mini-grids powered by Solar in Botswana, to replace kerosine and wood energy.
Marco,
In Fiji, a woman who had lived life without electricity related how, when the government told them that they’s be getting electricity, stated that she’d rather have safe piped water. I think that many people without electricity and water would agree. But if it is far easier to provide electricity, then it could make sense to do that first. It would depend on circumstances.
I have previously read how solar cookers have saved some people tremendous amounts of time trying to gather scarce firewood to cook their food.
We have seen how cell phone technology has allowed some people to leap-frog the technology of telephone wires throughout the country.
It seems as if solar panels plus battery storage will enable some people to leap-frog the technology of a large electrical grid.
Solar cookers can be very helpful. I don’t understand why they are not more commonly used in Fiji. However, it seems that most people prefer to have their largest meal in the evening so that could somewhat reduce the usefulness of solar cookers.