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A review of renewable off-grid mini-grids in Sub-Saharan Africa

Babayomi, Oluleke O. and Olubayo, Babatunde and Denwigwe, Iheanacho H. and Somefun, Tobilola Emmanuel and Adedoja, Oluwaseye Samson and somefun, C.T. and Olukayode, Kevwe and ATTAH, AMARACHI RITA (2023) A review of renewable off-grid mini-grids in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Energy Research. pp. 1-30.

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Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is home to 75% of the world’s unelectrified population, and approximately 500 million of these live in rural areas. Off-grid mini-grids are being deployed on a large scale to address the region’s electrification inequalities. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the research on the off-grid renewable mini-grids in SSA. The study covers the current status of the level of deployment of off-grid mini-grids. It also reviews multi-criteria decision-making models for optimizing engineering, economics, and management interests in minigrid siting and design in SSA. The statuses of financing, policy, and tariffs for minigrids in SSA are also studied. Finally, the current status of energy justice research in respect of mini-grids in SSA is reviewed. The study shows the important role of decentralized renewable technologies in the electrification of SSA’s rural population. Within a decade since 2010, the rural electrification rate of SSA has increased from 17% to 28%, and 11 million mini-grid connections are currently operational. Despite these gains, the literature points to several injustices related to the present model by which SSA’s renewable mini-grids are funded, deployed, and operated. Hence, several recommendations are provided for the effective application of the energy justice framework (EJF) for just and equitable mini-grids in SSA

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: off-grid mini-grids, renewable mini-grids, energy access, rural electrification, energy poverty, energy justice, Sub-Saharan Africa
Subjects: T Technology > T Technology (General)
T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Divisions: Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Electronics and Computer Science
Faculty of Engineering, Science and Mathematics > School of Engineering Sciences
Depositing User: nwokealisi
Date Deposited: 11 Aug 2023 10:38
Last Modified: 11 Aug 2023 10:38
URI: http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/17266

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