IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natene/v7y2022i4d10.1038_s41560-022-01006-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-022-01006-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41560-022-01006-9?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. Moner-Girona, M. & Solano-Peralta, M. & Lazopoulou, M. & Ackom, E.K. & Vallve, X. & Szabó, S., 2018. "Electrification of Sub-Saharan Africa through PV/hybrid mini-grids: Reducing the gap between current business models and on-site experience," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1148-1161.
    2. Verme, Paolo & Schuettler, Kirsten, 2021. "The impact of forced displacement on host communities: A review of the empirical literature in economics," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    3. Anoushka Boodhna & Corrie Sissons & Jessica Fullwood-Thomas, 2019. "A systems thinking approach for energy markets in fragile places," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(12), pages 997-999, December.
    4. Husein, Munir & Chung, Il-Yop, 2018. "Optimal design and financial feasibility of a university campus microgrid considering renewable energy incentives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 273-289.
    5. Suzanna Huber & Eva Mach, 2019. "Policies for increased sustainable energy access in displacement settings," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(12), pages 1000-1002, December.
    6. 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.
    7. Ondraczek, Janosch & Komendantova, Nadejda & Patt, Anthony, 2015. "WACC the dog: The effect of financing costs on the levelized cost of solar PV power," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 888-898.
    8. Krupa, Joel & Poudineh, Rahmatallah & Harvey, L.D. Danny, 2019. "Renewable electricity finance in the resource-rich countries of the Middle East and North Africa: A case study on the Gulf Cooperation Council," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1047-1062.
    9. Florian Egli & Bjarne Steffen & Tobias S. Schmidt, 2019. "Bias in energy system models with uniform cost of capital assumption," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-3, December.
    10. Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen & Tracy Tunge & Timothy Kayumba, 2019. "Inclusive energy solutions in refugee camps," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(12), pages 990-992, December.
    11. Owen Grafham & Phil Sandwell, 2019. "Harness better data to improve provision of humanitarian energy," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(12), pages 993-996, December.
    12. Georgilakis, Pavlos S. & Katsigiannis, Yiannis A., 2009. "Reliability and economic evaluation of small autonomous power systems containing only renewable energy sources," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 65-70.
    13. Nicky Dean, 2019. "Strategies to empower," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(12), pages 1003-1005, December.
    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. 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).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    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. 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).

    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. Ray, Manojit & Chakraborty, Basab, 2022. "Impact of demand flexibility and tiered resilience on solar photovoltaic adoption in humanitarian settlements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 895-912.
    2. Thomas, P.J.M. & Sandwell, P. & Williamson, S.J. & Harper, P.W., 2021. "A PESTLE analysis of solar home systems in refugee camps in Rwanda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    3. Jaime Moreno-Serna & Teresa Sánchez-Chaparro & Leda Stott & Javier Mazorra & Ruth Carrasco-Gallego & Carlos Mataix, 2021. "Feedback Loops and Facilitation: Catalyzing Transformational Multi-Stakeholder Refugee Response Partnerships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Jaime Moreno-Serna & Teresa Sánchez-Chaparro & Javier Mazorra & Ander Arzamendi & Leda Stott & Carlos Mataix, 2020. "Transformational Collaboration for the SDGs: The Alianza Shire’s Work to Provide Energy Access in Refugee Camps and Host Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-28, January.
    5. Steffen, Bjarne, 2020. "Estimating the cost of capital for renewable energy projects," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Briera, Thibault & Lefèvre, Julien, 2024. "Reducing the cost of capital through international climate finance to accelerate the renewable energy transition in developing countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    7. Blazquez, Jorge & Galeotti, Marzio & Martin-Moreno, Jose M., 2021. "Green recovery packages for a post-Covid-19 world: A lesson from the collapse of Spanish wind farms in the past financial crisis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    8. Galeazzi, Clara & Steinbuks, Jevgenijs & Anadon, Laura Diaz, 2024. "Assessing the impact of renewable energy policies on decarbonization in developing countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    9. Aqachmar, Zineb & Campana, Pietro Elia & Bouhal, Tarik & El Qarnia, Hamid & Outzourhit, Abdelkader & Alami Ibnouelghazi, El & Mouak, Said & Aqachmar, Atman, 2022. "Electrification of Africa through CPV installations in small-scale industrial applications: Energetic, economic, and environmental analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 723-746.
    10. 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).
    11. Iwona Bisaga & Long Seng To, 2021. "Funding and Delivery Models for Modern Energy Cooking Services in Displacement Settings: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    12. Friedemann Polzin & Mark Sanders & Bjarne Steffen & Florian Egli & Tobias S. Schmidt & Panagiotis Karkatsoulis & Panagiotis Fragkos & Leonidas Paroussos, 2021. "The effect of differentiating costs of capital by country and technology on the European energy transition," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(1), pages 1-21, July.
    13. 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.
    14. Egli, Florian, 2020. "Renewable energy investment risk: An investigation of changes over time and the underlying drivers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    15. 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).
    16. Namujju, Lillian Donna & Acquah-Swanzy, Henrietta & Ngoti, Irene F., 2023. "An IAD framework analysis of minigrid institutions for sustainable rural electrification in East Africa: A comparative study of Uganda and Tanzania," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    17. Assaad, Ragui & Ginn, Thomas & Saleh, Mohamed, 2023. "Refugees and the education of host populations: Evidence from the Syrian inflow to Jordan," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    18. 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.
    19. Krupa, Joel & Harvey, L.D. Danny, 2017. "Renewable electricity finance in the United States: A state-of-the-art review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 913-929.
    20. Walelign,Solomon Zena & Wang Sonne,Soazic Elise & Seshan,Ganesh Kumar, 2022. "Livelihood Impacts of Refugees on Host Communities : Evidence from Ethiopia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10044, The World Bank.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:nat:natene:v:7:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1038_s41560-022-01006-9. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    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.