Powering Africa through shared solar energy
Powering Africa through shared solar energy
复制标题
通过共享太阳能为非洲供电
DOI：
10.1109/powerafrica.2017.7991290
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发表时间：
2017
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Eyram A. Adadevoh
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Eyram A. Adadevoh
非洲的未来是光明的。在围绕贫困、文盲、失业和能源短缺等复杂问题的背景下，非洲大陆也充斥着渴望利用未开发行业或未得到充分满足的发展需求的金融优势的企业家和投资者。其中一个机会就是共享太阳能。太阳能已经证明自己是一种可行的解决方案，可以满足偏远离网社区的电气化要求，以及经历间歇性电力供应的联网用户。撒哈拉以南非洲各地的社区已经受益于个人家庭和商业太阳能装置，到使用可充电电池的太阳能装置，并利用一些国家每年3000多小时的日照。此外，共享太阳能还为那些由于成本或屋顶位置不当而可能没有资格利用太阳能的人提供了更多获得太阳能的机会和负担能力。共享太阳能允许个人(称为订户)在场外光伏系统中拥有负担得起的权益，该系统要么接入公共电网，要么充当微电网，直接为他们的家庭和企业供电。本文探讨了美国共享太阳能的例子，以及一些非洲国家各种太阳能部署的例子，以证明共享太阳能作为一种解决方案的可行性，以缓解非洲工业化面临的能源匮乏问题。本文件还以加纳为例，讨论了许多撒哈拉以南国家现行立法方面的差距，并提出了弥合法律框架差距和促进共享太阳能系统所需的进一步步骤。讨论了共享太阳能计划的合同考虑因素，以加强读者对支持这一可再生能源解决方案所需法律机制的复杂性的理解。最后，我们敦促读者，共享太阳能需要政治意愿和支持者的倡导才能成为现实。作为非洲在短期和长期内满足日益增长的电力需求的最佳选择，关于共享太阳能的讨论在不久的将来只会增加。希望也会有与之相匹配的行动。
Africa's future is bright. Amid complex issues surrounding poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and energy deficiency, to name a few, the continent is also brimming with eager entrepreneurs and investors looking to take financial advantage of untapped sectors or under-fulfilled development needs. One such opportunity lies within shared solar energy. Solar energy has already proven itself to be a viable solution for meeting the electrification requirements of remote off-grid communities, as well as for connected consumers experiencing intermittent power supply. Communities throughout Sub-Saharan Africa have already benefitted from personal home and business solar installations, to solar powered devices employing rechargeable batteries and exploiting the over 3000 hours of sunshine available in some countries annually. Further, shared solar offers the added benefit of greater access and affordability to solar power for those who otherwise may not be eligible to harness it, either due to cost or the improper positioning of rooftops. Shared solar allows individuals (known as subscribers) to own affordable interests in an off-site photovoltaic system that either feeds into the common grid, or acting as a micro-grid, directly supplies their homes and businesses. This paper explores examples of shared solar energy from the United States, as well as examples of various solar power deployments from some African countries, to make a case for the viability of shared solar as a solution to alleviate the energy privation that challenges Africa's industrialization. This paper also discusses the gaps in current legislation for many Sub-Saharan countries, using the example of Ghana, and presents the further steps required to close gaps in the legal framework and promote shared solar systems. Contractual considerations for a shared solar scheme are addressed to enhance readers' understanding regarding the complexity of legal mechanisms needed to support this renewables solution. Finally, readers are urged that political will and advocacy by proponents is required for shared solar to become a reality. As Africa's best option to meeting gaping power needs in the short to long term, the discussion on shared solar will only augment in the near future. Hopefully, there will also be matching action.