@article{LwakatareVyavahareMehtaetal.2024, author = {Lwakatare, Bertha and Vyavahare, Priyanka and Mehta, Kedar and Z{\"o}rner, Wilfried}, title = {Electrification Planning for Off-Grid Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa: Advancing Energy Access}, volume = {17}, pages = {5994}, journal = {Energies}, number = {23}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1996-1073}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235994}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Sub-Saharan Africa, especially its rural areas, faces significant challenges in achieving universal electrification despite its abundant renewable energy resources. The region has the highest population without access to electricity, largely due to economic, infrastructural, and geographical barriers. Energy poverty is a critical issue that hinders sustainable development and exacerbates inequalities. Namibia's sustainable energy policy aligns with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7, which aims to provide affordable and reliable modern energy access for all. The policy emphasizes mini-grids and decentralized power systems as key strategies for rural electrification. However, despite increased deployment of mini-grids, these solutions often struggle with long-term sustainability. This research explores cost-effective electrification strategies through scenario-based modeling to reduce energy poverty and expand energy access in Namibia's rural communities, focusing on the existing mini-grids in Tsumkwe and Gam. Using a comprehensive methodology that incorporates HOMER Pro for mini-grid capacity expansion and MS Excel for evaluating main-grid extensions, this study aims to identify the most feasible and economical electrification solutions. The analysis compares electricity supply, total net present cost, and the levelized cost of electricity across these systems. The findings will offer insights into addressing energy poverty in Namibia and provide recommendations for sustainable and scalable rural electrification across Sub-Saharan Africa.}, language = {en} } @thesis{Lwakatare2022, author = {Lwakatare, Bertha Phenias}, title = {Assesing the technical feasibility of micro grid integration as an electrification approach in rural settlements of Sub-Saharan Africa}, subtitle = {Case study of Uutsathima, Namibia}, publisher = {Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt}, address = {Ingolstadt}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:573-34846}, pages = {ix, 85}, school = {Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Despite having the world's fastest-growing population, Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest electrification rates, indicating the urgent need for improved energy infrastructure. While all its member countries have, since 2016, bid to abide and follow through with the 7th sustainable development goal, among others, electricity access remains below targeted rates. Research and implementation plans have extensively focused and relied on grid extension into semi-urban regions while neglecting rural settlements. Low population densities of rural regions discourage many electrification approaches. Sub-Saharan Africa, however, records a drop in the price of renewable power products and penetration of mini-grid technology into some of its rural regions. This brings forth the potential in assessing whether the integration of existing micro-grids in rural regions is a feasible electrification approach. To link energy demand and supply from the existing micro-grids, this thesis quantitatively audits energy consumption and develops load profiles for Uutsathima village and its distinguished settlement categories using MATLAB algorithms. The resulting load profiles are fed into PVsyst to size mini-grids per case scenario and compare the existing micro-grid capacity to recommend the best solutions when considering micro-grid integration. Results show that the existing 50\% of excess unused energy generated can potentially electrify business settlements of Uutsathima and electrification of households can be attained by implementation of a new mini-grid. Findings validate and define conditions for the feasibility of micro-grid integration dependent on generation capacities as well population/ settlement density.}, language = {en} } @article{MehtaLwakatareZoerneretal.2025, author = {Mehta, Kedar and Lwakatare, Bertha and Z{\"o}rner, Wilfried and Ehrenwirth, Mathias}, title = {Mini-grid performance in Sub-Saharan Africa: case studies from Tsumkwe and Gam, Namibia}, volume = {12}, pages = {30}, journal = {Sustainable Energy Research}, number = {1}, publisher = {SpringerOpen}, address = {Singapore}, issn = {2731-9237}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s40807-025-00174-y}, year = {2025}, abstract = {This paper investigates the performance analysis and operational challenges of mini-grids in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the Tsumkwe and Gam mini-grids, the only officially recognized mini-grids in Namibia. The study addresses a critical gap in understanding mini-grid efficiency, technical difficulties, and future potential. The key research questions focus on assessing mini-grid performance, identifying technical and operational challenges, quantifying the relationship between electricity demand and supply, and providing recommendations for enhancing rural electrification through mini-grids. These insights are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of mini-grids in the African context and understanding their role in advancing rural electrification. By using a mixed-method approach, the research combines quantitative and qualitative data to offer a comprehensive analysis of these two mini-grid systems of Namibia. The data collected from 2017 to 2022 include metrics on energy supply, consumption, photovoltaic generation, community load, and meteorological conditions. Qualitative insights were gathered through field visits, surveys, and interviews with mini-grid operators, allowing for a thorough examination of community perspectives, operational issues, and technical performance. The findings reveal that the Tsumkwe mini-grid has seen a decline in efficiency due to maintenance problems and battery overheating, while the Gam mini-grid, initially oversized, now struggles with increased demand and new connections. This study provides the first detailed technical insights, identifies consumer archetypes, and evaluates the energy dynamics of mini-grids in Namibia. Recommendations include improved maintenance protocols, advanced battery management, and enhanced data monitoring. By analyzing Tsumkwe and Gam, this paper offers valuable lessons for mini-grid development in Sub-Saharan Africa, stressing the need for continuous evaluation and strategic improvements to achieve sustainable rural electrification.}, language = {en} }