Renewable Energy Supported Microgrid in Rural Electrification of Sub-Saharan Africa

Access to energy is one of the primary cause contributing to the disparity between developed and developing nations. Nearly 600 million people in Africa lack access to electricity which majority of them residing in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Electricity consumption in SSA countries excluding South Africa is 153kwh/year. The current installed capacity is at 147 GW which is equivalent to China's install capacity for one or two years. The road to electrification in SSA countries is either through grid extension, high penetration of off-grid technologies such as standalone systems and microgrids. Given the abundant natural and vast geographical advantage, the potential for renewable energy sources is vast in SSA countries. This paper aims to present detailed review on the ongoing renewable energy supported technology for rural electrification of sub-Saharan Africa region. It will discuss issue of energy poverty and why that is directly related to the lagging economy of these countries. It will detail some of the off-grid and microgrid developments. Challenges facing this development will be discussed. Finally, it will conclude by reflecting on the impact of the future off-grid renewable technologies, the status and challenges of rural electrification.