Decarbonisation Strategy for Renewable Energy Integration for Electrification of West African Nations: A Bottom-Up EnergyPLAN Modelling of West African Power Pool Targets

Hamagham Peter Ishaku, Humphrey Adun (), Moein Jazayeri and Mehmet Kusaf
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Hamagham Peter Ishaku: Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99258, Turkey
Humphrey Adun: Energy Systems Engineering Department, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99258, Turkey
Moein Jazayeri: Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99258, Turkey
Mehmet Kusaf: Electrical & Electronics Engineering Department, Cyprus International University, Haspolat-Lefkosa, Mersin 99258, Turkey

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-36

Abstract: Limited access to electricity and endemic power shortages are huge problems in West African countries, as the lack of sufficient power impedes the socio-economic development in the region. Improving access to and reliability of electricity in West Africa will require close cooperation among neighboring countries, and this was one of the aims for the creation of the West African power pool (WAPP). In this study, a sustainable and economically viable pathway to achieve 100% electricity access and 48% renewable energy sources share in the region by the year 2030 set by WAPP was presented by considering environmental, geographical, technical and economic factors. The technologies of both renewable and non-renewable sources are considered in the model development. Simulation analysis was carried out on individual countries within the region and also as a unified synchronous electricity grid network. The most feasible results were discussed in terms of the initial investment cost, total annual cost, electricity production capacities, carbon emissions and renewable energy sources shared using EnergyPLAN computer software. The integration of natural gas (42,000 MW) with the three RES technologies with the following capacities, wind (13,000 MW), PV (13,000 MW) and hydro (29,000 MW), was shown to be the most feasible, suitable and reliable case scenario for meeting the lofty set target as a unified synchronous grid. This will reduce carbon emissions by almost 50%, from 150 to 77.8 Mt per year, and incur a total investment cost and a total annual cost of USD 250.37 billion and USD 14.71 billion, respectively.

Keywords: West Africa; renewable energy sources; EnergyPLAN; electricity access; synchronous electricity grid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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