PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent

Desen Kirli; Johannes Hampp; Koen Van Greevenbroek; Rebecca Grant; Matin Mahmood; Maximilian Parzen; Aristides Kiprakis

doi:10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570911

PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent

Desen Kirli, Johannes Hampp, Koen Van Greevenbroek, Rebecca Grant, Matin Mahmood, Maximilian Parzen, Aristides Kiprakis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Electricity network modelling and grid simulations form a key enabling element for the integration of newer and cleaner technologies such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicles into the existing grid and energy system infrastructure. This paper reviews the models of the African electricity systems and highlights the gaps in the open model landscape. Using PyPSA (an open Power System Analysis package), the paper outlines the pathway to a fully open model and data to increase the transparency in the African electricity system planning. Optimisation and modelling can reveal viable pathways to a sustainable energy system, aiding strategic planning for upgrades and policy-making for accelerated integration of renewable energy generation and smart grid technologies such as battery storage in Africa.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
ISBN (Electronic)	9781665419840
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570911
Publication status	Published - 25 Oct 2021
Event	2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021 - Virtual, Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of Duration: 13 Sept 2021 → 15 Sept 2021

Publication series

Name	IEEE AFRICON Conference
Volume	2021-September
ISSN (Print)	2153-0025
ISSN (Electronic)	2153-0033

Conference

Conference	2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021
Country/Territory	Tanzania, United Republic of
City	Virtual, Arusha
Period	13/09/21 → 15/09/21

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Africa
Electricity access
Electricity grid
Geospa-tial modelling
Network modelling
Open data
Open source software
Transmission system

Access to Document

10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570911

https://arxiv-export1.library.cornell.edu/abs/2110.10628Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

Cite this

Kirli, D., Hampp, J., Van Greevenbroek, K., Grant, R., Mahmood, M., Parzen, M., & Kiprakis, A. (2021). PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent. In Proceedings of 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021 (IEEE AFRICON Conference; Vol. 2021-September). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570911

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abstract = "Electricity network modelling and grid simulations form a key enabling element for the integration of newer and cleaner technologies such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicles into the existing grid and energy system infrastructure. This paper reviews the models of the African electricity systems and highlights the gaps in the open model landscape. Using PyPSA (an open Power System Analysis package), the paper outlines the pathway to a fully open model and data to increase the transparency in the African electricity system planning. Optimisation and modelling can reveal viable pathways to a sustainable energy system, aiding strategic planning for upgrades and policy-making for accelerated integration of renewable energy generation and smart grid technologies such as battery storage in Africa.",

keywords = "Africa, Electricity access, Electricity grid, Geospa-tial modelling, Network modelling, Open data, Open source software, Transmission system",

author = "Desen Kirli and Johannes Hampp and \{Van Greevenbroek\}, Koen and Rebecca Grant and Matin Mahmood and Maximilian Parzen and Aristides Kiprakis",

note = "Funding Information: This research is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Centre (EPSRC) grants: EP/R513209/1 for Doctoral Training Partnership, EP/P007805/1 for the Centre for Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy Generation (CAMREG) and EP/P001173/1 for Centre of Energy System Integration (CESI). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 IEEE.; 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021 ; Conference date: 13-09-2021 Through 15-09-2021",

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Kirli, D, Hampp, J, Van Greevenbroek, K, Grant, R, Mahmood, M, Parzen, M & Kiprakis, A 2021, PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent. in Proceedings of 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021. IEEE AFRICON Conference, vol. 2021-September, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021, Virtual, Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of, 13/09/21. https://doi.org/10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570911

PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent. / Kirli, Desen; Hampp, Johannes; Van Greevenbroek, Koen et al.
Proceedings of 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2021. (IEEE AFRICON Conference; Vol. 2021-September).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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AU - Mahmood, Matin

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N1 - Funding Information: This research is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Centre (EPSRC) grants: EP/R513209/1 for Doctoral Training Partnership, EP/P007805/1 for the Centre for Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy Generation (CAMREG) and EP/P001173/1 for Centre of Energy System Integration (CESI). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 IEEE.

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AB - Electricity network modelling and grid simulations form a key enabling element for the integration of newer and cleaner technologies such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicles into the existing grid and energy system infrastructure. This paper reviews the models of the African electricity systems and highlights the gaps in the open model landscape. Using PyPSA (an open Power System Analysis package), the paper outlines the pathway to a fully open model and data to increase the transparency in the African electricity system planning. Optimisation and modelling can reveal viable pathways to a sustainable energy system, aiding strategic planning for upgrades and policy-making for accelerated integration of renewable energy generation and smart grid technologies such as battery storage in Africa.

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KW - Electricity access

KW - Electricity grid

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KW - Network modelling

KW - Open data

KW - Open source software

KW - Transmission system

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ER -

PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Centre for Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy Generation

PyPSA-Earth. A new global open energy system optimization model demonstrated in Africa

Beyond cost reduction: Improving the value of energy storage in electricity systems.

Beyond cost reduction: Improving the value of energy storage

Cite this

PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Centre for Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy Generation

Research output

PyPSA-Earth. A new global open energy system optimization model demonstrated in Africa

Beyond cost reduction: Improving the value of energy storage in electricity systems.

Datasets

Beyond cost reduction: Improving the value of energy storage

Cite this