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Sustainability implications of electricity outages in sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • DeVynne Farquharson

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Paulina Jaramillo

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Constantine Samaras

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

Abstract

Many with access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are subject to frequent outages due to insufficient generation capacities and/or poor transmission and distribution infrastructure. These outages result in increased use of backup diesel generators. We use a Monte Carlo Analysis framework to estimate changes in net air emissions, consumer costs and fossil energy consumption that result from the use of backup diesel generators in SSA. We show that reliance on backup diesel generators can lead to increased air emissions in all countries. Use of backup diesel generators also increases fossil fuel energy consumption by a factor of 1.5–1,000 compared with current grid levels throughout SSA. Finally, we estimate that the costs of generating diesel backup power are millions of dollars higher than the costs of grid electricity in all countries. These results suggest that increasing power system reliability for those with existing electricity access is a key component of meeting sustainable electricity access goals.

Suggested Citation

  • DeVynne Farquharson & Paulina Jaramillo & Constantine Samaras, 2018. "Sustainability implications of electricity outages in sub-Saharan Africa," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(10), pages 589-597, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:1:y:2018:i:10:d:10.1038_s41893-018-0151-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0151-8
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Kazmi, Hussain & Mehmood, Fahad & Shah, Maryam, 2024. "Quantifying residential energy flexibility potential for demand response programs using observational data from grid outages: Evidence from Pakistan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    3. Álvaro L. Ferreira & Tomás C. de Castro & Marcelo A. Costa & Sérgio H. R. Ribeiro & Iguatinan G. Monteiro, 2023. "Financial sustainability disparities among energy distribution companies: a multi-factor study case in Brazil," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(7), pages 1-35, July.
    4. Paul Nduhuura & Matthias Garschagen & Abdellatif Zerga, 2020. "Mapping and Spatial Analysis of Electricity Load Shedding Experiences: A Case Study of Communities in Accra, Ghana," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-26, August.
    5. Otienoa, Jackson & Cook, Joseph & Fuente, David, 2023. "The coping costs of dealing with unreliable water supply in the Nairobi commercial sector," EfD Discussion Paper 23-3, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    6. Mukisa, Nicholas & Zamora, Ramon & Lie, Tek Tjing, 2021. "Viability of the store-on Grid Scheme model for grid-tied rooftop solar photovoltaic systems in Sub-Saharan African countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 845-863.
    7. Jamil, Faisal & Islam, Tanweer Ul, 2023. "Outage-induced power backup choice in Pakistan," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Paul Nduhuura & Matthias Garschagen & Abdellatif Zerga, 2021. "Impacts of Electricity Outages in Urban Households in Developing Countries: A Case of Accra, Ghana," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
    9. Zhecheng Wang & Arun Majumdar & Ram Rajagopal, 2023. "Geospatial mapping of distribution grid with machine learning and publicly-accessible multi-modal data," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Xu, Da & Bai, Ziyi & Jin, Xiaolong & Yang, Xiaodong & Chen, Shuangyin & Zhou, Ming, 2022. "A mean-variance portfolio optimization approach for high-renewable energy hub," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    11. Yu, Jian & Liu, Peng & Fu, Dahai & Shi, Xunpeng, 2023. "How do power shortages affect CO2 emission intensity? Firm-level evidence from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    12. Igawa, Moegi & Managi, Shunsuke, 2022. "Energy poverty and income inequality: An economic analysis of 37 countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PB).
    13. Chen, Hao & Jin, Lu & Wang, Mingming & Guo, Lin & Wu, Jingwen, 2023. "How will power outages affect the national economic growth: Evidence from 152 countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    14. Heinemann, G. & Banzer, F. & Dumitrescu, R. & Hirschhausen, C.v. & Neuhoff, M.E. & Ogechi Nwadiaru, V., 2022. "Transforming electricity access by replacing back-up generators with solar systems: Recent trends and evidence from Nigeria," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).

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