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Planning sustainable electricity solutions for refugee settlements in sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Duccio Baldi

    (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University)

  • Magda Moner-Girona

    (Joint Research Centre—European Commission)

  • Elena Fumagalli

    (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University)

  • Fernando Fahl

    (GFT Italia S.r.l.)

Abstract

An inadequate understanding of the energy needs of forcibly displaced populations is one of the main obstacles in providing sustainable and reliable energy to refugees and their host communities. Here, we provide a first-order assessment of the main factors determining the decision to deploy fully renewable mini-grids in almost 300 refugee settlements in sub-Saharan Africa. Using an energy assessment survey and publicly available traditional and earth observation data, we estimate a total electricity demand of 154 GWh yr–1. This figure includes lighting, air circulation and phone charging for 1.15 million households and the estimated demand of almost 59,000 microbusinesses and around 7,000 institutional loads. Using a set of techno-economic modelling tools, we thus compute a corresponding upper-bound total up-front cost of providing electricity access of just over US$1 billion. Deploying solar photovoltaic mini-grids instead of diesel implies avoiding greenhouse gas emissions for 2.86 MtCO2e over 20 years.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:7:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1038_s41560-022-01006-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-022-01006-9
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    1. Mai Wardeh & Rui Cunha Marques, 2023. "Measuring the SDGs in Refugee Camps: An Insight into Arab States Bordering Syria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-26, January.
    2. Falko T. Buschke & Christine Estreguil & Lucia Mancini & Fabrice Mathieux & Hugh Eva & Luca Battistella & Stephen Peedell, 2023. "Digital Storytelling Through the European Commission’s Africa Knowledge Platform to Bridge the Science-Policy Interface for Raw Materials," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 1141-1154, June.
    3. Hamish Beath & Shivika Mittal & Sheridan Few & Benedict Winchester & Philip Sandwell & Christos N. Markides & Jenny Nelson & Ajay Gambhir, 2024. "Carbon pricing and system reliability impacts on pathways to universal electricity access in Africa," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. 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.
    5. 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).

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