Advancing rural electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) comprises 48 countries and has an installed capacity of 68 GW, with the world’s lowest electricity access rate at 26 per cent and a rural electricity access rate of only 8 per cent. Utilizing overhead power lines used in transmission and distribution power systems to transmit electrical energy across large distances from powerplants to large load areas (supply to major cities and/or industrial areas such as mining) could accelerate rural electrification in the region. This paper presents economical solutions, as well as advantages and disadvantages, for connecting rural communities along a high voltage/extra high voltage overhead transmission line, which traverse many rural areas but do not usually supply them with electricity.