IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v236y2024ics0960148124015489.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Carbon footprint of solar based mini-grids in Africa: Drivers and levers for reduction

Author

Listed:
  • Chamarande, T.
  • Hingray, B.
  • Mathy, S.

Abstract

The massive development of mini-grids (MGs) is seen as a promising alternative to the extension of national grids to achieve universal access to electricity. MGs based on solar photovoltaic are often recognized fully consistent with net-zero CO2 emissions objectives. However, if they have low or even no direct emissions from diesel consumption, they embed indirect carbon emissions due to solar panels and batteries manufacturing. Electrification policies, mainly based on the levelized costs of electricity (LCOE), should likely account for the carbon footprints (CFP) of possible electrification strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Chamarande, T. & Hingray, B. & Mathy, S., 2024. "Carbon footprint of solar based mini-grids in Africa: Drivers and levers for reduction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:236:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124015489
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121480
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148124015489
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.121480?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Makarov, Igor & Alataş, Sedat, 2024. "Production- and consumption-based emissions in carbon exporters and importers: A large panel data analysis for the EKC hypothesis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    2. Plain, N. & Hingray, B. & Mathy, S., 2019. "Accounting for low solar resource days to size 100% solar microgrids power systems in Africa," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 448-458.
    3. T. Chamarande & S. Mathy & B. Hingray, 2022. "The least cost design of 100% solar power microgrids in Africa: sensitivity to meteorological and economic drivers and possibility for simple pre-sizing rules," Post-Print hal-03740059, HAL.
    4. Moner-Girona, M. & Ghanadan, R. & Solano-Peralta, M. & Kougias, I. & Bódis, K. & Huld, T. & Szabó, S., 2016. "Adaptation of Feed-in Tariff for remote mini-grids: Tanzania as an illustrative case," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 306-318.
    5. Elkadeem, M.R. & Younes, Ali & Sharshir, Swellam W. & Campana, Pietro Elia & Wang, Shaorong, 2021. "Sustainable siting and design optimization of hybrid renewable energy system: A geospatial multi-criteria analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    6. Tsiaras, Evangelos & Papadopoulos, Demetrios N. & Antonopoulos, Constantinos N. & Papadakis, Vagelis G. & Coutelieris, Frank A., 2020. "Planning and assessment of an off-grid power supply system for small settlements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1271-1281.
    7. Chien, FengSheng & Vu, Trong Lam & Hien Phan, Thi Thu & Van Nguyen, Sang & Viet Anh, Nguyen Ho & Ngo, Thanh Quang, 2023. "Zero-carbon energy transition in ASEAN countries: The role of carbon finance, carbon taxes, and sustainable energy technologies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 561-569.
    8. Thomas Huld & Magda Moner-Girona & Akos Kriston, 2017. "Geospatial Analysis of Photovoltaic Mini-Grid System Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Churchill Agutu & Florian Egli & Nathaniel J. Williams & Tobias S. Schmidt & Bjarne Steffen, 2022. "Accounting for finance in electrification models for sub-Saharan Africa," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(7), pages 631-641, July.
    10. Bahrami, Arian & Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka & Atikol, Ugur, 2016. "The effect of latitude on the performance of different solar trackers in Europe and Africa," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 896-906.
    11. Hanieh Seyedhashemi & Benoît Hingray & Christophe Lavaysse & Théo Chamarande, 2021. "The Impact of Low-Resource Periods on the Reliability of Wind Power Systems for Rural Electrification in Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.
    12. Viole, Isabelle & Valenzuela-Venegas, Guillermo & Sartori, Sabrina & Zeyringer, Marianne, 2024. "Integrated life cycle assessment in off-grid energy system design—Uncovering low hanging fruit for climate mitigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 367(C).
    13. McCallum, Christopher S. & Kumar, Narendran & Curry, Robin & McBride, Katherine & Doran, John, 2021. "Renewable electricity generation for off grid remote communities; Life Cycle Assessment Study in Alaska, USA," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    14. Come Zebra, Emília Inês & van der Windt, Henny J. & Nhumaio, Geraldo & Faaij, André P.C., 2021. "A review of hybrid renewable energy systems in mini-grids for off-grid electrification in developing countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    15. Bortoletto, Wagner Wilson & Pacagnella Junior, Antonio Carlos & Cabello, Otavio Gomes, 2023. "Exploring the scientific literature on clean development mechanisms: A bibliometric analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    16. Gabra, Samuel & Miles, John & Scott, Stuart A., 2019. "Techno-economic analysis of stand-alone wind micro-grids, compared with PV and diesel in Africa," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1928-1938.
    17. Liu, Feng & van den Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M., 2020. "Differences in CO2 emissions of solar PV production among technologies and regions: Application to China, EU and USA," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    18. Rangel, N. & Li, H. & Aristidou, P., 2023. "An optimisation tool for minimising fuel consumption, costs and emissions from Diesel-PV-Battery hybrid microgrids," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    19. Voorspools, Kris R. & Brouwers, Els A. & D'haeseleer, William D., 2000. "Energy content and indirect greenhouse gas emissions embedded in [`]emission-free' power plants: results for the Low Countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 307-330, November.
    20. Eric B. Yiadom & Lord Mensah & Godfred A. Bokpin & John K. M. Mawutor, 2024. "Carbon tax adoption and foreign direct investment: Evidence from Africa," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 2312783-231, December.
    21. Abdul Munim Rehmani & Syed Ali Abbas Kazmi & Abdullah Altamimi & Zafar A. Khan & Muhammad Awais, 2023. "Techno-Economic-Environmental Assessment of an Isolated Rural Micro-Grid from a Mid-Career Repowering Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-35, January.
    22. Adenle, Ademola A., 2020. "Assessment of solar energy technologies in Africa-opportunities and challenges in meeting the 2030 agenda and sustainable development goals," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    23. Favourate Y. Mpofu, 2022. "Green Taxes in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges for Environmental Protection, Sustainability, and the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-26, August.
    24. Olusanya Elisa Olubusoye & Dasauki Musa & Salvatore Ercolano, 2020. "Carbon Emissions And Economic Growth In Africa: Are They Related?," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 1850400-185, January.
    25. Basir Khan, M. Reyasudin & Jidin, Razali & Pasupuleti, Jagadeesh & Shaaya, Sharifah Azwa, 2015. "Optimal combination of solar, wind, micro-hydro and diesel systems based on actual seasonal load profiles for a resort island in the South China Sea," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 80-97.
    26. Duccio Baldi & Magda Moner-Girona & Elena Fumagalli & Fernando Fahl, 2022. "Planning sustainable electricity solutions for refugee settlements in sub-Saharan Africa," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(4), pages 369-379, April.
    27. Thirunavukkarasu, M. & Sawle, Yashwant & Lala, Himadri, 2023. "A comprehensive review on optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems using various optimization techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    28. Faydi, Younes & Djdiaa, AbdelAli & Laabassi, Hichame & Ait Omar, Aissam & Bouzekri, Hicham, 2024. "Contribution of green hydrogen vector to guarantee electricity feeding in remote areas- Case study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    29. Muzan Williams Ijeoma & Hao Chen & Michael Carbajales-Dale & Rahimat Oyiza Yakubu, 2023. "Techno-Economic Assessment of the Viability of Commercial Solar PV System in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-25, September.
    30. Grágeda, M. & Escudero, M. & Alavia, W. & Ushak, S. & Fthenakis, V., 2016. "Review and multi-criteria assessment of solar energy projects in Chile," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 583-596.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. T. Chamarande & B. Hingray & Sandrine Mathy, 2024. "Carbon footprint of solar based mini-grids in Africa: Drivers and levers for reduction," Post-Print hal-04721670, HAL.
    2. Hanieh Seyedhashemi & Benoît Hingray & Christophe Lavaysse & Théo Chamarande, 2021. "The Impact of Low-Resource Periods on the Reliability of Wind Power Systems for Rural Electrification in Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Fernando Antonanzas-Torres & Javier Antonanzas & Julio Blanco-Fernandez, 2021. "State-of-the-Art of Mini Grids for Rural Electrification in West Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, February.
    4. T. Chamarande & S. Mathy & B. Hingray, 2022. "The least cost design of 100% solar power microgrids in Africa: sensitivity to meteorological and economic drivers and possibility for simple pre-sizing rules," Post-Print hal-03740059, HAL.
    5. Duccio Baldi & Magda Moner-Girona & Elena Fumagalli & Fernando Fahl, 2022. "Planning sustainable electricity solutions for refugee settlements in sub-Saharan Africa," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(4), pages 369-379, April.
    6. Fadlallah, Sulaiman O. & Benhadji Serradj, Djamal Eddine & Sedzro, Delight M., 2021. "Is this the right time for Sudan to replace diesel-powered generator systems with wind turbines?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 40-54.
    7. Taner Güney & Duygu İnce, 2024. "Solar Energy and CO2 Emissions: CCEMG Estimations for 26 Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 2383-2400, March.
    8. Moner-Girona, M. & Bender, A. & Becker, W. & Bódis, K. & Szabó, S. & Kararach, A.G. & Anadon, L.D., 2021. "A multidimensional high-resolution assessment approach to boost decentralised energy investments in Sub-Saharan Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    9. Jeuland, Marc & Babyenda, Peter & Beyene, Abebe & Hinju, Gabriel & Mulwa, Richard & Phillips, Jonathan & Zewdie, Samuel A., 2023. "Barriers to off-grid energy development: Evidence from a comparative survey of private sector energy service providers in Eastern Africa," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    10. Boadu, Solomon & Otoo, Ebenezer, 2024. "A comprehensive review on wind energy in Africa: Challenges, benefits and recommendations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    11. Beath, Hamish & Baranda Alonso, Javier & Mori, Richard & Gambhir, Ajay & Nelson, Jenny & Sandwell, Philip, 2023. "Maximising the benefits of renewable energy infrastructure in displacement settings: Optimising the operation of a solar-hybrid mini-grid for institutional and business users in Mahama Refugee Camp, R," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    12. Tahir, Mustafa & Hu, Sideng & Khan, Tahir & Zhu, Haoqi, 2024. "Multi-energy station design for future electric vehicles: A synergistic approach starting from scratch," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 372(C).
    13. François, B. & Puspitarini, H.D. & Volpi, E. & Borga, M., 2022. "Statistical analysis of electricity supply deficits from renewable energy sources across an Alpine transect," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 1200-1212.
    14. Charfeddine, Lanouar & Umlai, Mohamed, 2023. "ICT sector, digitization and environmental sustainability: A systematic review of the literature from 2000 to 2022," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    15. Jiaxin Lu & Weijun Wang & Yingchao Zhang & Song Cheng, 2017. "Multi-Objective Optimal Design of Stand-Alone Hybrid Energy System Using Entropy Weight Method Based on HOMER," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, October.
    16. Giacomo Falchetta & Nicolò Stevanato & Magda Moner-Girona & Davide Mazzoni & Emanuela Colombo & Manfred Hafner, 2020. "M-LED: Multi-sectoral Latent Electricity Demand Assessment for Energy Access Planning," Working Papers 2020.09, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    17. Ioannidis, Romanos & Koutsoyiannis, Demetris, 2020. "A review of land use, visibility and public perception of renewable energy in the context of landscape impact," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    18. Athanasios Zisos & Dimitrios Chatzopoulos & Andreas Efstratiadis, 2024. "The Concept of Spatial Reliability Across Renewable Energy Systems—An Application to Decentralized Solar PV Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-18, November.
    19. Zizzo, G. & Beccali, M. & Bonomolo, M. & Di Pietra, B. & Ippolito, M.G. & La Cascia, D. & Leone, G. & Lo Brano, V. & Monteleone, F., 2017. "A feasibility study of some DSM enabling solutions in small islands: The case of Lampedusa," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 1030-1046.
    20. Nabavi-Pelesaraei, Ashkan & Azadi, Hossein & Van Passel, Steven & Saber, Zahra & Hosseini-Fashami, Fatemeh & Mostashari-Rad, Fatemeh & Ghasemi-Mobtaker, Hassan, 2021. "Prospects of solar systems in production chain of sunflower oil using cold press method with concentrating energy and life cycle assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:236:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124015489. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.