Date: 12 April 2023
Organizer: LDES
Description: According to the African Economic Outlook 2022, over 600 million people or 43% of the total population have no access to electricity. The growth & economic development of the continent calls for universal access as well as a cost effective, reliable & stable supply of energy.
The annual installed solar capacity hit 949 MW in 2022 itself, a 14% y-o-y growth compared to 2021 making the cumulative capacity to 10.5 GW according to African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA). Africa is home to 60% of the world’s best solar resources, but just 1% of the global solar capacity installed, and intends to maximize the continent’s potential with ambitions to reach 510 GW by the end of 2030 (IEA).
Solar PV is already the cheapest sources in many parts of the continent & with its current economic attractiveness is gaining momentum and has the potential to be deployed in a rapid manner with increasing investments.
However, the challenges pertaining to intermittency, seasonal variability, balancing of grids need addressing & that is where energy storage can play an important role providing flexibility & reliability with a tremendous impact in enabling energy access.
Long Duration Energy storage can smooth out the delivery of the intermittent resources by storing excess energy when the sun is shining & delivering it both during night and off-season periods, as well as providing flexible, dispatchable power.
This workshop is designed to bring together associations, policymakers, developers, manufacturers and civil society organizations to discuss how solar and long duration energy storage can help Africa meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) of universal access to clean, modern, and affordable energy for the continent.
