Estimating mini-grid demand in Malawi: initial findings from a mini-grid scale-up assessment

Damien Frame; Aran Eales; Edgar Kapiza Bayani

doi:10.1109/PowerAfrica57932.2023.10363288

Estimating mini-grid demand in Malawi: initial findings from a mini-grid scale-up assessment

Damien Frame, Aran Eales, Edgar Kapiza Bayani

Electronic And Electrical Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution book

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Abstract

Mini-grids and other Distributed Energy Resource (DER) systems are expected to play a major role in achieving sustainable electricity supply for the 580 million people currently lacking access in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for mini-grid planning is essential for sustainable business models and efficient technical designs; however, primary data in the African mini-grid sector is sparse, especially in Malawi. This paper presents initial case-study findings from ongoing work by Community Energy Malawi to initiate a roll-out of mini-grids in Malawi. Different data sources for estimating mini-grid customer consumption are presented and compared, highlighting the importance of quality datasets for planning and the need for greater efforts on data gathering and sharing in Malawi. With such data, informed decisions on tariffs and business planning can be made to improve financial sustainability for mini-grids.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa
Subtitle of host publication	PowerAfrica
Place of Publication	Piscataway
Publisher	IEEE
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9798350337556, 9798350337549
ISBN (Print)	9798350337563
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PowerAfrica57932.2023.10363288
Publication status	Published - 22 Dec 2023
Event	IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa: Affordable and Clean Energy for Africa - Marrakesh, Morocco Duration: 6 Nov 2023 → 10 Nov 2023

Conference

Conference	IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa
Abbreviated title	2023 IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica
Country/Territory	Morocco
City	Marrakesh
Period	6/11/23 → 10/11/23

Keywords

mini-grids
DER
SDG7
rural electrification

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1109/PowerAfrica57932.2023.10363288

Frame-etal-IEEE-PowerAfrica-2023-Estimating-mini-grid-demand-in-MalawiAccepted author manuscript, 904 KBLicence: Strath_1

Rural Energy Access through Social Enterprise and Decentralisation (EASE)
Galloway, S. (Principal Investigator), Frame, D. (Research Co-investigator) & Frame, D. (Research Co-investigator)
Scottish Government
1/10/18 → 30/06/24
Project: Research

Cite this

@inproceedings{c2ae6d97bd4c4638a3302fc5ab0281d3,

title = "Estimating mini-grid demand in Malawi: initial findings from a mini-grid scale-up assessment",

abstract = "Mini-grids and other Distributed Energy Resource (DER) systems are expected to play a major role in achieving sustainable electricity supply for the 580 million people currently lacking access in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for mini-grid planning is essential for sustainable business models and efficient technical designs; however, primary data in the African mini-grid sector is sparse, especially in Malawi. This paper presents initial case-study findings from ongoing work by Community Energy Malawi to initiate a roll-out of mini-grids in Malawi. Different data sources for estimating mini-grid customer consumption are presented and compared, highlighting the importance of quality datasets for planning and the need for greater efforts on data gathering and sharing in Malawi. With such data, informed decisions on tariffs and business planning can be made to improve financial sustainability for mini-grids.",

keywords = "mini-grids, DER, SDG7, rural electrification",

author = "Damien Frame and Aran Eales and Bayani, {Edgar Kapiza}",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2023 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.; IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa : Affordable and Clean Energy for Africa, 2023 IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica ; Conference date: 06-11-2023 Through 10-11-2023",

year = "2023",

month = dec,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1109/PowerAfrica57932.2023.10363288",

language = "English",

isbn = "9798350337563",

booktitle = "IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa",

publisher = "IEEE",

}

Frame, D , Eales, A & Bayani, EK 2023, Estimating mini-grid demand in Malawi: initial findings from a mini-grid scale-up assessment. in IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa: PowerAfrica. IEEE, Piscataway, IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa, Marrakesh, Morocco, 6/11/23. https://doi.org/10.1109/PowerAfrica57932.2023.10363288

TY - GEN

T1 - Estimating mini-grid demand in Malawi

T2 - IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa

AU - Frame, Damien

AU - Eales, Aran

AU - Bayani, Edgar Kapiza

N1 - Copyright © 2023 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.

PY - 2023/12/22

Y1 - 2023/12/22

N2 - Mini-grids and other Distributed Energy Resource (DER) systems are expected to play a major role in achieving sustainable electricity supply for the 580 million people currently lacking access in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for mini-grid planning is essential for sustainable business models and efficient technical designs; however, primary data in the African mini-grid sector is sparse, especially in Malawi. This paper presents initial case-study findings from ongoing work by Community Energy Malawi to initiate a roll-out of mini-grids in Malawi. Different data sources for estimating mini-grid customer consumption are presented and compared, highlighting the importance of quality datasets for planning and the need for greater efforts on data gathering and sharing in Malawi. With such data, informed decisions on tariffs and business planning can be made to improve financial sustainability for mini-grids.

AB - Mini-grids and other Distributed Energy Resource (DER) systems are expected to play a major role in achieving sustainable electricity supply for the 580 million people currently lacking access in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for mini-grid planning is essential for sustainable business models and efficient technical designs; however, primary data in the African mini-grid sector is sparse, especially in Malawi. This paper presents initial case-study findings from ongoing work by Community Energy Malawi to initiate a roll-out of mini-grids in Malawi. Different data sources for estimating mini-grid customer consumption are presented and compared, highlighting the importance of quality datasets for planning and the need for greater efforts on data gathering and sharing in Malawi. With such data, informed decisions on tariffs and business planning can be made to improve financial sustainability for mini-grids.

KW - mini-grids

KW - DER

KW - SDG7

KW - rural electrification

U2 - 10.1109/PowerAfrica57932.2023.10363288

DO - 10.1109/PowerAfrica57932.2023.10363288

M3 - Conference contribution book

SN - 9798350337563

BT - IEEE Power Engineering Society Conference and Exposition in Africa

PB - IEEE

CY - Piscataway

Y2 - 6 November 2023 through 10 November 2023

ER -

Estimating mini-grid demand in Malawi: initial findings from a mini-grid scale-up assessment

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

Rural Energy Access through Social Enterprise and Decentralisation (EASE)

Cite this