Standalone and Grid-connected Renewable Power System Design in Africa: A Critical Review

Africa is considered critical in terms of energy access, particularly in the Sub-Saharan region, where strong adoption of renewable energy is necessary to address sustainability challenges. However, extensive research and development are essential for this transition. This paper provides a concise and critical review of grid-connected and off-grid renewable power system design in the African context. It offers a network-categorized summary of power system design studies conducted on the continent, focusing on key elements for each study. The studies were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative assessment followed basic parameters, such as network type, location, and the analytical tools used. The qualitative assessment, with novel contributions to the research, considered parameters such as the relevance, strengths, and weaknesses of the studies, along with general recommendations and clear policy-relevant inputs. On the quantitative side, about 51 research papers were reviewed, with network shares of 21.6% for grid-connected systems and 78.4% for off-grid systems. Regionally, the West African cluster was analyzed as having the highest share at 28.08%, while the Central African cluster had the lowest share at 7.69%. Regarding analytical tools, models, and experimental approaches, about 16 grouped packages were noted. However, the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) was the most frequently used, with a share of 47% in power system research conducted on the continent. This research approach is generally applicable for filling research gaps, providing insights into areas needing strong intervention, shaping power system design at the R&D level, and facilitating appropriate decision-making across Africa.