50
M. Irowarisima
power estimates.
47 However, the Mckinsey’s power sector report on electricity demand for SSA in 2010 was at 423 TWh but an annual projected
growth rate of about 4% through 2040.
48 These estimates are most likely
to be more owing to discrepancies from self-generation and unreliable
data on captive power. These features account for the prevailing uncertainty of electricity demand projections in the region.
49 This sometimes
makes it difficult in deciding the region’s future power system design.
Nevertheless, the African countries are developing rapidly, and this
suggests that the current demand profile estimates are apt to change as
industries and factories spring up in their numbers. At the moment, most
ECOWAS country’s demand for electricity peaks in the evening hours
and the peak demand is much greater than average demand. Therefore,
to address the challenge of future demand profile projection, will require
the installation of more generation capacity, even if that capacity is used
for only a few hours a day when peak demand happens. The shape and
style of this current demand profile in ECOWAS, mainly the size of peak
demand relative to average demand is crucial for capacity planning in
any energy system. Hence, the requirement for peak plants in an energy
system contributes significantly to the economics of the entire grid.
While to a greater extent, as suggested by some articles that the
challenges of SSA’s energy system can be categorized into two main
components. The first involves the need to increase the region’s electricity
supply and determining whether new generation capacity will come from
fossil or renewable sources. The second component consists of the need
to meet electricity demand and determining the role of centralized and
decentralized grids in increasing access. In as much as these paradigms
are true, there is a more complex phenomenon that characterizes each
individual state’s energy predicament as they affect the overall regional
dynamic. The following identified challenges are a priority for reform
47 See A Castellano, A Kendall, M Nikomarov, and T Swemmer (n. 19).
48 A Sanoh, AS Kocaman, S Kocal, S Sherpa, and V Modi, ‘The Economics of Clean Energy
Resource Development and Grid Interconnection in Africa’, (2014) 62 Renewable Energy, 598–
609.
49 ‘SADC Energy Monitor: Baseline Study of the SADC Energy Sector’, Southern African
Development Community and Southern African Research and Documentation Centre Report
(Gaborone and Harare, 2016).
M. Irowarisima
power estimates.
47 However, the Mckinsey’s power sector report on electricity demand for SSA in 2010 was at 423 TWh but an annual projected
growth rate of about 4% through 2040.
48 These estimates are most likely
to be more owing to discrepancies from self-generation and unreliable
data on captive power. These features account for the prevailing uncertainty of electricity demand projections in the region.
49 This sometimes
makes it difficult in deciding the region’s future power system design.
Nevertheless, the African countries are developing rapidly, and this
suggests that the current demand profile estimates are apt to change as
industries and factories spring up in their numbers. At the moment, most
ECOWAS country’s demand for electricity peaks in the evening hours
and the peak demand is much greater than average demand. Therefore,
to address the challenge of future demand profile projection, will require
the installation of more generation capacity, even if that capacity is used
for only a few hours a day when peak demand happens. The shape and
style of this current demand profile in ECOWAS, mainly the size of peak
demand relative to average demand is crucial for capacity planning in
any energy system. Hence, the requirement for peak plants in an energy
system contributes significantly to the economics of the entire grid.
While to a greater extent, as suggested by some articles that the
challenges of SSA’s energy system can be categorized into two main
components. The first involves the need to increase the region’s electricity
supply and determining whether new generation capacity will come from
fossil or renewable sources. The second component consists of the need
to meet electricity demand and determining the role of centralized and
decentralized grids in increasing access. In as much as these paradigms
are true, there is a more complex phenomenon that characterizes each
individual state’s energy predicament as they affect the overall regional
dynamic. The following identified challenges are a priority for reform
47 See A Castellano, A Kendall, M Nikomarov, and T Swemmer (n. 19).
48 A Sanoh, AS Kocaman, S Kocal, S Sherpa, and V Modi, ‘The Economics of Clean Energy
Resource Development and Grid Interconnection in Africa’, (2014) 62 Renewable Energy, 598–
609.
49 ‘SADC Energy Monitor: Baseline Study of the SADC Energy Sector’, Southern African
Development Community and Southern African Research and Documentation Centre Report
(Gaborone and Harare, 2016).