SA Affordable Housing November - December 2019 // ISSUE: 79 | Page 9

NEWS
Universal energy access possible through
mini grids � WEF report
A
t the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) on
Africa, Caspar Herzberg, President, Middle
East and Africa, Schneider Electric – supplier
of solutions, energy management and process
automation, was part of the Universal Energy Access
panel on the first day of the conference. This session
was associated with the Platform for Shaping the
Future of Energy.
More than 600 million people lack access to
electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, exacting a heavy toll
on inclusive growth. From renewable energy storage
to smart grids, the panel discussed what models can
support the continent in reaching universal energy
access by 2030.
“It is easier to supply energy to urban areas, but
urbanisation is not a positive phenomenon. If one
travels around Africa and looks at the power lines
above and townships below, the difficulty is in the
last 50m, where there are many social issues,”
explains Herzberg.
"What do people do with the energy, how
to integrate these into the local economies,
how will this be done sustainably and,
more importantly, how do you maintain
“Globally, there is a trend towards decentralised
grids and, with mini grids; we have the opportunity
to create an integrated approach to make cities more
liveable and efficient. Equally, you want to focus on
rural areas with mini grids to reverse the trend of rural
urban migration.
“One thing we have found is that when you put
a functioning mini grid with a business model in
a previously disconnected community, it reverses
that trend and creates a new local hub. An excellent
example of this is the Onibambu case study in Nigeria,
where Arnergy, a Nigerian solar power company,
solved rural electrification in collaboration with
Schneider Electric and Bank of Industry (BOI).
“Providing access to energy to 600 million
people in sub-Saharan Africa may seem an attractive
investment opportunity from the sheer numbers, but
if it was easy it would already have been done by now.
“The challenge is the business model around mini
grids – what do people do with the energy, how to
integrate these into the local economies, how will this
be done sustainably and, more importantly, how do
you maintain and operate micro-grids? To make this
work, basic electrical skills are needed, at scale, and
www.saaffordablehousing.co.za
and operate micro-grids?"
Caspar Herzberg, President, Middle East and Africa, Schneider
Electric.
that is where a public private partnership needs to
work together to build these skills. Schneider Electric
is not just about building factories but investing in
people and skills development, as we have done in
South Africa for over 30 000 people.
“Finally, there is the question of off grid and on
grid, but this can be managed by the digitisation of
the smart grid to ensure integration. The technology
is there, we now need to deploy a national matrix so
that the conflict can be well managed. Added to that,
there is no real conflict between the two, it is more
about how they can work together (on grid and off
grid) to ensure universal energy access. This is an
expertise that Schneider Electric can offer,” concludes
Herzberg.
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