Renewable energy as viable option to meet West Africa power needs

The West Africa region is still saddled with the challenge of lack of power supply as millions of citizens in the region still live without electricity even as demand for energy is rising rapidly.

ECOWAS Master Plan shows that electricity demand is projected to increase fivefold by 2030. This estimate includes demand from mines, which are accounted for separately in the Master Plan and in some countries are a significant driver of electricity demand.

Currently, 87 percent of demand comes from urban users, with almost all of the rest from industry.

Industry close watchers in the energy space observe that renewable energy has the potential to substantially assist West African countries and their people to have access to power, essential for the reduction of poverty and to ensure economic growth.

A report by International Renewable Energy Agency indicates that under the renewable-promotion scenario, renewables including hydro would account for more than 50 percent of generation share by 2030, rising from the current level of 22 percent.

According to the report, whilst West Africa’s potential in hydropower would remain important, non-hydro renewables would increasingly contribute   generation mix, climbing to approximately 20 percent.

By 2040, it has been estimated that more than 25 percent or West Africa’s total energy will originate from geothermal, hydro, solar and wind.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Africa’s demand for electricity is expected to increase by more than two-thirds as more than 60 GW of additional capacity would be needed by 2030.

Analysts pointed out that the use of renewable technologies is especially useful in the further and outlying areas as it is easier to install a more cost-effective solution in order to be less reliant on transporting electricity from power plants via transmission lines, which becomes very expensive.

Akinwumi Adesina, president of Africa Development Bank said the banks new energy strategy aims to increase energy production and access, improve affordability, reliability and energy efficiency.

Making case for the adoption of this new energy option those who know in the industry opined that renewable power reduces carbon emissions, has the potential to supply cheaper electricity, and is becoming more affordable while coal and nuclear are likely to be more expensive.

The IEA states that solar PV is expected to lead capacity additions as it has become the cheapest source of electricity generation.

Most West African countries with existing hydro capacity still have vast untapped hydro potential almost half of which would be met by renewable technologies under the renewable-promotion scenario.

The IRENA report further indicated that the ECOWAS Master Plan identified hydro projects equivalent to about 12GW,  including  3GW each in Nigeria and  Guinea,  and  1GW  in Cote d’Ivoire.

On a per-square-metre-basis, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau have the highest potential for solar CSP.  In absolute terms Nigeria and Niger have the biggest potential both for solar PV and CSP.  High-quality wind resources were identified only in Niger and Senegal. Burkina Faso, Gambia, Nigeria have large potential for middle-quality wind.

KELECHI EWUZIE