Smart Grids

Energy access at affordable prices is key for social and economic development. This is specially challenging on remote locations where traditional commercial solutions to serve small, distant and distributed population prove hard to be financial sustainable and government funds are scarce to support universal access. This is where decentralized energy solutions, especially the ones involving renewable sources as solar and hydric, come into play. The evolution in the last 10 years in terms of capacity and price for solar cells and the typical conditions of solar exposure in Africa (and specifically in Angola), makes this a prime energy source for decentralized production, especially if combined with storage solutions (e.g. Batteries) or other energy vectors (e.g. Hydrogen). In parallel, the advancement in terms of smart grids management, makes it easier to deploy these decentralized solutions locally. Additional, decentralized energy solutions move the decision process closer to the users, as these can be developed by local communities, local government entities or private companies. Decentralized energy solutions should be seen as key instrument to increase energy inclusion, increase territorial cohesion and move into more cleaner energy sources in Africa. It is key that governments incorporate these solutions into their energy policies and provide the right regulatory and business environment for these solutions to grow.