Distributed power generation, or small scale power being fed into the grid, could be a viable solution for many places within Africa. As the demand for more reliable energy continues to riddle the continent, off-grid has long been thought to be the main solution especially for rural areas. And while off-grid is still the more viable option since a great deal of residents within the continent are not connected to the grid, those that are would more than likely be better suited with small scale power generation projects being fed into a country’s system.
One reason is that large-scale projects take a long time to procure not to mention the maintenance required. Many times, companies transfer control of the projects to the government, but the country fails to perform proper maintenance to ensure reliability. Smaller projects are also easier to meet funding requirements. 3W Power/AEG Power Solutions managing director Trevor de Vries told ESI Africa, “By distributing smaller generating capacity at multiple locations, the pitfalls of relying on a single remote source of power are greatly reduced."
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