Assessing the Viability and Impact of Off Grid Systems for Sustainable Electrification of Rural Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract The deployment of hybrid solar minigrid is crucial for the sustainability of urban and rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa, as it enables decentralization from the main power hubs. Solar Mini grids have been successfully utilized in urban areas, resulting in a 45% improvement in electrification across key sectors and industries. However, these systems face significant challenges in deployment, utilization, and sustainability within many rural communities. This challenge has led to a 35% drop in energy access within these regions, which has resulted in dire consequences for the local population, increasing poverty. Minigrids has emerged as a promising solution to address energy access issues in rural areas. In 2019, solar power produced 41 GWh of electricity, making up 0.13% of the country's total electricity generation with a small percentage allocated to rural communities. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the viability of off-grid solar systems for electricity generation in rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa. The research objectives are focused on evaluating the impacts of mini-grid, assessing their sustainability, and exploring their roles in sub-Saharan African rural communities where electricity supply is insufficient, analyzing specific research gaps, challenges in the adoption of mini-grids, capital intensiveness, land utilization costs, and break-even periods using techno-economic analysis as a key methodology. The methodology of the paper involves comparing mini-grid sustainability in urban and rural communities and then developing unique models and optimal local designs that can be replicated and implemented across these communities. Furthermore, the research results focus on specific factors limiting the adoption of mini-grid systems which include adopting metrics such as the economic viability of solar energy projects, the regulatory and policy landscape, and technical obstacles, and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE).