Solar farms in the Sahara Desert to Generate electricity in Africa (Research Paper Sample)

Installation of large solar farms in the Sahara Desert to generate electricity in Africa
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Abstract
Access to dependable and sufficient energy is a necessary step to industrialization, increasing the living conditions of the people, boosting safety and security, and maintaining a healthy environment. Energy has a vital role in molding and reshaping the human situation and is thus necessary for human existence and a significant element for economic development. There is a substantial connection between socio-economic growth and the availability of electricity. The third world nations are confronted with chronic power difficulties, which impede economic developmental plans, despite the presence of enormous natural resources in these countries. This article views and analyzes excessive reliance on foreign energy production technology, expatriates for operation and maintenance of power plants as a significant failure of energy infrastructure development and subsequent inhibitor of economic progress. It went on to propose capacity development in renewable energy and their production technologies as a key for improved energy delivery for third world countries in African economic progress.
Introduction
The inadequacy of produced energy to satisfy the demand of energy users continues to be a significant source of worry for the majority of African economies. In Africa, typical power-producing facilities include hydro, wind, and others; however, coal continues to be the primary energy source. There are possibilities to further research into solar farms as a source of energy generation in Africa.
Project Objectives
The main goal of this project is to;
* Provide cheap and affordable electric energy to across African countries
* Explore alternative sources of energy generation for African communities.
* Ensure the reliability of supply across African countries.
* We are utilizing clean energy with no harm to the environment in Africa.
* Curb the shortfall in the current power generated across Africa and simulate a solar farm that will ensure power sufficiency.
Nature of the Challenge
As per International Energy Agency, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the world's lowest access to energy, with the lowest rates in the world (IEA). A little more than half of the country's population has access to electricity. Only one-third has access to clean cooking; people who lack electricity are about 600 million, and 890 million cook using traditional fuels. One country in developing Asia has little than 25% access, comparable to thirteen countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 2018). Regional economic growth is also expected to be relatively modest in 2018, with an anticipated 2.8 percent increase in 2018, instead of a 7.1 percent rise in South Asia. Economic growth and sustainable development are stifled due to this severe shortage of access to energy (World Bank, 2017).
Proposed Solutions
A solar farm covering the whole desert would theoretically create 2,000 times more electricity than even the world's most giant power plants, which generate less than 100,000 GWh per year. Indeed, it would produce more than 36 billion barrels per day, or nearly five barrels of oil for each person every day, if fully operational. In this scenario, the Sahara could potentially supply more than 7,000 times the electricity needed by Europe while emitting practically no carbon dioxide.
Discussion
A clean energy revolution is desperately required in Sub-Saharan Africa to defeat energy poverty, encourage strong development, and make it more sustainable. Clean energy has the potential to catalyze long-term economic growth, enhance human health and well-being, and empower women and children to live more productive lives. Additionally, it will increase human security and strengthen nation-states' and communities' resilience. This study delves deeply into the difficulties and possibilities associated with expanding access to renewable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Packages of policies are required to encourage access to clean energy, including power for productive purposes and a complete variety of technological solutions, including off-grid and mini-grid renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean cooking. Innovative finance and strengthen public sector governance are necessary elements for markets to function. Delivering on this golden development opportunity would need not just more funding but also increased policy attention and enormous political effort on the part of local and international players.
Photovoltaic (PV) energy facilities directly convert solar radiation to electricity. A solar photovoltaic (PV) plant is shown in Figure 1. Solar photovoltaic modules are used in the first stage to gather solar radiation. The energy generated by the photovoltaic modules is referred to as direct current electricity. The DC energy is converted to AC electricity and sent to the utility grid through an AC Service Panel.
Figure 1: Overview of a Solar PV Power Plant. Source: Pavlovic et al, 2012.
Solar PV in Burkina Faso. Photo: IRENA
A prosperous energy future for Africa's people and companies is well-deserved. The energy and access problems that Africa is facing must be solved as soon as possible, mainly for the sake of its people, and in light of the continent's critical position as a fast-expanding energy consumer in the global energy revolution.
Below diagram shows how solar power is integrated to the grid.