RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
Rural electrification is a policy measure, with strategic impact on social inclusion, which aims to promote human development, the well-being of Angolans and which is a key factor for the harmonious development of the national territory.
In Angola, rural electrification is foreseen under three implementation models:
1. Rural electrification through grid extension
2. Electrification through isolated systems
3. Electrification through individual systems
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY TYPE OF CONNECTION
Rural electrification increases the opportunities for wealth creation, develops private initiative and generates employment for men and women in the rural environment.
1. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION THROUGH GRID EXTENSION
The selected grid extension model contemplates already numerous distribution grids outside the large urban areas, essentially to electrify municipal townships. This grids reach 174 locations, which represent approximately 5% of the Angolan population.
Grid extension outside large urban areas will allow for the electrification of the majority of municipal townships, in a total of approximately 1.7 million people. The map on figure 20 shows all municipal townships that will be connected to the main grid, including the border towns which will be serviced through Namibia.
The electrification model proposed is based mainly on the installation of 60kV substations, branching from existing or planned 220kV substations. These substations are generally located in municipal townships which, in turn become points of departure to connect either other municipality townships
or rural grids.
Furthermore, the connection to the main national grid reduces significantly the costs of powering these distribution networks, thus facilitating the involvement of the private sector.
ELECTRIFICATION OF MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS OUTSIDE THE MAJOR URBAN AREAS BY EXTENSION OF POWER GRID
2. ELECTRIFICATION THROUGH ISOLATED SYSTEMS
The electrification by means of isolated systems is considered for 31 localities, which represents only 1% of the population. These localities are preferentially supplied by competitive mini-hydro, and where these are not available, by diesel generators and solar systems.
The proximity of a particular municipal township to a competitive mini-hydro - for such level of consumption - reduces the gains which could be obtained from connecting it to the national grid and changes, in various situations, the economic rationale of interconnecting that location.
The hydropower atlas has made it possible to evaluate, on a preliminary basis, approximately 100 locations identified by the Ministry of Energy and Water. The mini-hydro projects with lower generation costs have been resized and reappraised to the load of the close-by municipal townships and rural grids. This appraisal has resulted in a selection of 7 mini-hydro with potential to supply 9 municipal townships through isolated systems (map below). Additionally, a medium sized hydro project has been identified in river Cuango, which has the potential to supply power to four municipalities with
a population of more than 300,000 people while the connection between North and East systems is not built.
About 21 municipal townships present high connection costs per energy unit, therefore they should be electrified through isolated systems based on diesel with some solar power support – which can reduce fuel costs.
Finally, the concept of a100% solar municipality - with photovoltaic technology and batteries – will be tested in the locality where economic rationality is the highest, considering the high cost of transportation of diesel: the Municipality of Rivungo, in Cuando Cubango. Should this solution be successful, it can be extended to other distant municipal townships that have good solar resources.
MAP OF OFF-GRID SYSTEMS
3. ELECTRIFICATION THROUGH INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS
This model comprises the creation of “solar villages” or small local networks in communal townships and settlements with more than 3,000 inhabitants. “Solar villages” constitute an intermediate solution, which provides modern electricity services to communal infrastructures, such as schools, health units, administration and public lighting of main streets. Small local networks can be developed by private initiative. The National Strategy for New Renewable Energies foresees a target of 500 solar villages by 2025, with proposed locations being shown on the map in figure below.
Some remote villages could benefit from solar lanterns and improved cook-stoves. The map also presents the remote human settlements which cannot, for technical or economical reasons, be connected to the network or served by isolated systems.
MAP OF LOCALITIES PROPOSED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF "SOLAR VILLAGES" AND DISPERSE RURAL SETTLEMENTS
