Africa’s Best Bet

This article was written by Dennis Ebenezer

Commerce in the 18th Century through to this present dispensation has taught us the radical but subtle nature of human activities evolution. It is no strange occurrence to witness economic activities skyrocketing in the night time majorly by the presence of smart street electrification. Compelled to share is that the UK nightlife industry is worth £66 billion accounting for 1.6% of GDP and creating about 425,000 jobs across the country. This nightlife industry interestingly caters for 8% of the UK’s employment as stated by Night Time Industries Association. Nocturnal businesses propelled 24 hours environment electrification innovation made possible by street illumination systems. According to Eaton Paris Day’s claim, the world’s first electric street light is known as Yablochkov Candles (1878). Today one will imagine what would have been obtainable in the world if the streetlight innovation was not been widely replicated. The narrative of the correlation of nighttime economy boosts and worldwide street lighting reduplication after Yablochkov Candles should encourage a widespread deployment of the decentralized grid in the African continent shrouded with 597 million people without electricity connection

Asians Ideal

The Asian mastery of the art of independence strengthened by industrialization and imperative power mindset is worth reeling out as it formed a bedrock to militate foreign takeover and suppression from EU and American progressives. Continents have always risen to the challenge of tilting to what is most advantageous and a seeming strength base. A decentralized grid is proven to be Africa advantageous and should be given massive consideration for continent widespread adoption.

Best for Africa

Decentralized Grid is ownership intoxicating. Ownership is the best preventive maintenance mechanism for any system. For a continent historical with a meagre maintenance culture, driving ownership is imperative. In definition light, a decentralized energy system is characterized by locations of energy production facilities closer to the site of energy consumption. A decentralized energy system allows for more optimal use of renewable energy as well as combined heat and power reduces fossil fuel use and increases eco-efficiency (UNESCAP). According to recent data published by Statista.com, well over 597 million people do not have electricity connections of which 70% of the population living in rural areas lacked access to electricity (in turn not connected to the centralized Grid). Advocacy for connection of this whooping population to the National Grid remains unfavourable for Third World countries bewildered by a high percentage of recurrent budget expenditure compared to capital expenditure. The immediate and substantial solution is not a grid extension but a decentralized grid. Renewable Energy solutions have made it technically viable to build Grid networks that provide electricity access to rural areas and locations not connected to the centralized grid. Solar PV system synchronized with generation set is one unique ice coating in the RE solution bag. Timely deployment of the decentralised grid in Africa’s unserved areas will assertively salvage educational institutions’ failure, healthcare woes and economic downturn. Energy is at the heart of development. Energy makes possible the investments, innovations and new industries that are the engines of jobs, inclusive growth and shared prosperity for entire economies. Universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy (SDG7) is essential to reach other SDGs and is at the centre of efforts to tackle climate change (World Bank 2020).

“Think logically, and you have a chance to solve a problem. Reacting emotionally to it prolongs and worsens your dilemma.” ― Stewart Stafford.  Numerous companies are solving problems just like Havenhill is energizing communities one step at a time by operationally utilizing government policies and industry skilled expertise in the deployment of decentralized grid systems powered by Solar PV technology. This drive to harness the abundant solar resources available in Africa through the deployment of technological enhanced renewable energy solutions guided by a thorough project planning process apparently gives her an edge in the replication of decentralized grid systems to meet the power needs of unserved and underserved communities. The involvement of cutting edge technologies in Havenhill’s mini-grid project execution enables apt remote monitoring and intelligent maintenance schedules. Also, Havenhill Synergy’s incorporation of impact in projects is one to none. Core objectives of community electrification are achieved together with facilitating agricultural innovation, powering productive loads and a conscious prioritization of critical social infrastructure loads such as health centres.

A decentralized grid is no doubt a noble solution best fit for Africa. Renewable energy solutions are the critical enabler and as such deployment should begin now. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr. “we must use time creatively in the knowledge that the time is always right to do right”. The future is now and the time is right for the electrification of Africa through the swift deployment of decentralized grids (Renewable Energy solutions enabled). In conformity with an excellently coordinated community engagement process involving all key stakeholders, cordial relationship with government regulatory agencies, applied safety codes and industry installation standards, Havenhill is on an admirable horizon slide in the replication of decentralized grids across Africa.