Assessing the potential for solar energy utilization in Malawi

Solar Energy, 1996

This paper describes how data from a variety of sources are merged to present new countrywide maps of the solar energy distribution over Ethiopia. The spatial coverage of stations with radiation data was found to be unsatisfactory for the purpose of a countrywide solar energy assessment exercise. Therefore, radiation had to be predicted from sunshine hours by employing empirical models. Using data from seven stations in Ethiopia, linear and quadratic correlation relationships between monthly mean daily solar radiation and sunshine hours per day have been developed. These regional models show a distinct improvement over previously employed countrywide models. To produce a national solar-energy distribution profile, a spatial extension of the radiation/sunshine relationships had to be carried out. To do this, the intercepts (a) and slopes (b) of each of the seven linear regression equations and another six from previous studies, completed in neighbouring Sudan, Kenya and Yemen, were used to interpolate the corresponding values to areas between them. Subsequent to these procedures, 142 stations providing only sunshine data were assigned their "appropriate" a and b values to estimate the amount of solar radiation received, which was then used to produce annual and monthly solar radiation distribution maps for Ethiopia. The results show that in all regions solar energy is an abundant resource.

2012

This report is written within the RENEW IS academy, this is a five year (2009-2014) research project investigating energy access and development cooperation in Eastern Africa. It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) and is a joint collaboration of IVM (Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam), ECN (Energy research Centre of the Netherlands) and the environment, water, climate and energy department of DGIS. Within this program I did an internship with SNV Netherlands Development Organization in Zimbabwe. SNV in partnership with International Labour Organization (ILO) is investing in value chain development for rural solar PV markets. The intervention seeks to reduce the high transaction costs for solar products and their maintenance in rural areas by approximately 70% through establishing local sales, after-sales and maintenance networks. This will be done by fostering business relations between youth in rural localities and solar companies in towns while creating an environment where financing products are available on the market for affordability of the solar systems and products. ILO would like to create meaningful selfemployment opportunities for 180 people between 15-35 years of age in 2013. SNV would like to increase access to renewable energy for rural communities in Zimbabwe (SNV & ILO, 2012). Collaboration between SNV and ILO started with this research to investigate whether there is a natural and economical potential for solar PV in rural areas of Zimbabwe. Does it make sense to invest in a training program for the stimulation of a market based solar energy market based on economical and natural factors? Earth science and economics This study is done within the master Earth science, specialization earth science and economics. This master aims to work within the tension of earth science and economics. Therefore this study will study both; economical feasibility of solar energy and natural potential of solar irradiation.

American Journal of Energy and Natural Resources

The use of photovoltaic solar energy is affected by variations in the availability of solar radiation, which creates stability in solar panels. In our case, the need arose to study the temporal variability of solar energy in the southern region of Mozambique. This was followed by a descriptive sequence, applying the analytical method for the classification of days and the analysis of the day’s variability of clear, cloudy and intermediate skies in the data from three regional stations. The results show that it was mostly on clear sky days (44.64%), enhancing the use of solar energy. Statistical analysis of the frequency density variability shows that days with intermediate skies have a similar behavior, however they present a smooth decrease, because for variation of clear sky index ∆Kt* in the interval [-2,2] it is higher. The values of Kt* vary between 0.3342–1.2764, the minimum is observed in the month of July and the maximum in December and the variations during the daily course...

Renewable energy sources are easily accessible and clean to the environment. Solar energy is one of the best forms of renewable energy, particularly for a country such as Botswana. Paradoxically, Botswana finds herself importing electricity and experiencing power cuts, yet she has abundant sunshine almost all-year round that could be converted to electric power. This paper seeks to investigate through literature search, the potential for Botswana to convert her copious solar radiation into solar energy. A comparison of different forms of renewable energy are made. Particular attention is drawn to the case of Australia which has experience in use of solar energy and has a similar climate to that of Botswana. Findings from literature search reveal that Botswana stands a great chance of using solar power to improve the livelihood of its people and businesses. Recommendations to policy makers and the private sector are that there is urgent need to put in place policies, regulations and frameworks to support solar generation and reduce reliance on electricity importation and coal production which is not sustainable. The authors propose a conceptual model to help policy makers in implementing solar energy projects in Botswana.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

This paper presents an overview of the Malawi energy situation and the potential of renewable energy resources including solar, wind, biomass, hydro and geothermal. Despite a range of efforts by local and international stakeholders to increase access to modern energy sources in the country, 89 per cent of Malawi׳s energy is still sourced from traditional biomass mainly fuel wood. Only 8 per cent of the population in Malawi have access to electricity but installed capacity of electricity generation is lower than demand. This leads to load shedding by the electricity supplier; consequently electricity supply in Malawi is unreliable and micro and macroeconomic activities are significantly affected. Solar, non-traditional biomass (crop residues and forest residues not burnt on three stone fireplaces, and biogas), hydro, wind and geothermal are potential energy resources that could enhance Malawi׳s energy security. However, unreliable financing mechanisms for large scale energy projects; shortage of trained human resource; lack of coordination among local institutions; unclear regulation enforcement; and sometimes political governance impede sustainable delivery of energy projects. The Malawi energy policy targets and drivers are also discussed in the paper. Based on the prevailing energy situation, a PESTLE analysis is provided in this paper outlining a novel thinking for addressing the political (P), economic (E), social (S), technological (T), legal (L), and environmental (E) challenges that constrain the development of renewable energy technologies in Malawi.

2011

This paper describes recent work on the development of a wireless based remote monitoring system for renewable energy plants in Malawi. The main goal was to develop a cost effective data acquisition system that continuously presents remote energy yields and performance measures. A test bed comprising of a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant has been set up at Malavi Primary School and a central management system at Malawi Polytechnic. The project output gives direct access to generated electric power at the rural site through the use of wireless sensor boards and text message (SMS) transmission over cellular network. The SMS recipient at the central site houses an intelligent management system based on FrontlineSMS for hosting SMSs and publishing remote measurement trends over the Internet. Preliminary experimental results reveal that the performance of renewable energy systems in remote rural sites can be evaluated efficiently at low cost.

Journal of Sustainable Development Studies, 2019

This paper aimed at developing a sustainable strategy for the transfer of solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies to the rural areas in Malawi. The paper evaluated two strategies used to transfer solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies to rural Malawi namely the centralised systems strategy and the decentralised systems strategy. More attention was paid to analysing the PV transfer strategies in terms of management, financing, community participation, skills transfer, and marketing systems. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect the needed data. The study has revealed that the centralised systems strategy, which is based on solar villages, is unsustainable. On the other hand, the decentralised systems strategy, which promotes small-systems, has potential to be sustainable as long as the systems are not given out to the people as donations. Therefore, a new sustainable policy strategy, for the transfer of solar PV technologies to the rural areas in Malawi, named ‘the commercial...

Renewable Energy, 1994

A~tract-The Republic of Botswana in Southern Africa has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. However, its remotely isolated rural areas pose problems to rural energy management and development because of (i) poor road links with the urban centres, and (ii) remoteness from the national electrical transmission grid. Development of renewable energy sources, therefore, has a vast potential in Botswana. Solar energy, with excellent sunshine of over 3300 hrs per year, is of paramount importance, the applications of which are already quite significant and are growing at a steady rate. Use of solar energy is incorporated in the National Energy Master Plan, and it has contributed to almost all aspects of development in rural as well as urban areas. They include solar water heating for domestic and commercial uses, solar desalination to provide potable water, passive solar buildings, photovoltaic devices for lighting, water pumping, refrigeration, communication and fence electrification. This paper reviews various applications of solar energy and their contribution to development in Botswana and discusses future prospects of solar energy in Botswana.

2003

2011

This paper describes recent work on the development of a wireless based remote monitoring system for renewable energy plants in Malawi. The main goal was to develop a cost effective data acquisition system that continuously presents remote energy yields and performance measures. A test bed comprising of a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant has been set up at Malavi Primary School and a central management system at Malawi Polytechnic. The project output gives direct access to generated electric power at the rural site through the use of wireless sensor boards and text message (SMS) transmission over cellular network. The SMS recipient at the central site houses an intelligent management system based on FrontlineSMS for hosting SMSs and publishing remote measurement trends over the Internet. Preliminary experimental results reveal that the performance of renewable energy systems in remote rural sites can be evaluated efficiently at low cost.