Promoting Africa’s efficiency in electricity distribution using spatial technology

Just as the rest of the world, Africa has of late taken keen interest in promoting utility of clean and affordable energy, the seventh UN’s Sustainable Development Goal, among its population by 2030. The energy sector in the continent across the value chain has for a while been characterised with a drop in efficiency according to International Energy Agency. These inefficiencies include electricity generation from non-renewable pollutant sources such as coal as well as skewed distribution of this twenty first century vital human need.

Electricity coverage and efficiency gaps

Access to electricity has steadily grown with a 43% access rate in Africa, half a figure to global trends. Populations in South Africa and Northern Africa countries have amazingly almost absolute access to electricity. Kenya on the other hand has a 79% access rate courtesy of ‘last mile connectivity program’. Governance issues, high tariffs and lack of laws protecting investors have however dragged optimization of the continent’s potential in energy efficacy through use of vast renewable energy sources namely geothermal and hydroelectric. Increasing population as well as high demand for electricity have abetted its unreliability and subsequently reduced quality of life together with lower economic productivity.

Figure 1: Access to electricity in Africa

Source: International Energy Agency

With regards to electricity distribution, there exist glaring gaps leading to losses in billions of shillings. These include:

• Unlicensed power tapping especially in informal settlements which would be evident with the twenty-four-hour lighting in these areas come rain come sunshine.
• Illegal utilization of power infrastructure especially by telecommunication companies while establishing fiber optics networks. A warning has been sent by one of the electricity companies in Kenya in the recent past.
• Stealing of assets such as meters, transmission cables and electric poles that are unaccounted for.
• Unpredicted power blackouts especially in severe weather such as thunderstorms and strong winds that destroy the power infrastructure.

Leveraging technological advancements to promote efficiency

The fast-growing technologies are definitely timely for utilization by the energy sector. How can the electricity companies improve service delivery while still registering profits looking into the fourth industrial revolution? It goes without saying that geospatial technologies are pivotal.

Asset management through data capture of resources namely meter points and voltage lines as photos and GPS coordinates would help represent the complex system for easier interpretation. Kenya Power has partnered with National Youth Service to undertake this exercise. On the other hand, smart-metering would enable easy access to data through Internet of Things.

Mapping of transmission and distribution networks would be vital in analyzing the electricity grid to understand the dynamics of power demands and supply such as outages. This would in turn facilitate easier monitoring of the networks for instance using drones in aerial patrols.

Figure 2: Mapping of the electricity grid is essential to understand demand and supply dynamics

Source: KETRACO

Location-based predictive market analysis would help in customizing costings among customers based on their utility of electricity as well as tailoring services offered to their needs since customer is King.

Web-based applications for easy access of integrated data to employees for decision-making is crucial. In addition, providing customers with real time information on electricity services through self-service portals is worth considering. Such advancements would be facilitated by the fast-growing internet coverage and 5G going forward.

Conclusion

Africa as a continent has made strides in regards to infrastructural development not to mention the economy. However, these facets among many others are still wanting in spite of our enormous potential considering the human capital and natural resources. It is high time all associates in the energy sector as a whole be intentional and committed in enhancing productivity of energy across the value chain.

Among many other deliberations, interest in renewable clean energy such as hydropower, geothermal and wind power ought to be taken seriously. Power pooling that is region-based must be strengthened to augment our capacity moving into the future for a prosperous continent we the young people and coming generations deserve.