Solar Power Potential in Africa: A Case Study on Cost Reduction in a Malian Household Through Photovoltaic Solar Power and Lithium-Ion Battery Storage

This study explores the potential for PV solar power and battery storage to reduce energy costs in a typical Malian single-family household, highlighting significant cost savings and improved energy reliability. The high solar irradiance throughout the year makes solar power viable for household ene...

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Main Authors: Madani Drave, Felix Mannerhagen, Anton Kersten, Richard Eckerle, Thealfaqar A. Abdul-Jabbar, Furqan A. Abbas, Branko Ban, Yu Xu, Manuel Kuder, Thomas Weyh, Mats Leijon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Electricity
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4826/6/1/5
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author Madani Drave
Felix Mannerhagen
Anton Kersten
Richard Eckerle
Thealfaqar A. Abdul-Jabbar
Furqan A. Abbas
Branko Ban
Yu Xu
Manuel Kuder
Thomas Weyh
Mats Leijon
author_facet Madani Drave
Felix Mannerhagen
Anton Kersten
Richard Eckerle
Thealfaqar A. Abdul-Jabbar
Furqan A. Abbas
Branko Ban
Yu Xu
Manuel Kuder
Thomas Weyh
Mats Leijon
author_sort Madani Drave
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the potential for PV solar power and battery storage to reduce energy costs in a typical Malian single-family household, highlighting significant cost savings and improved energy reliability. The high solar irradiance throughout the year makes solar power viable for household energy needs. However, most electricity is consumed at night due to air conditioning, with an annual consumption of 12,504 kWh. Cost models for solar power plants and battery energy storage systems, including installation, were developed. Cost parameters were reviewed using the latest literature, distinguishing between current and future cost trends, referred to as Case I and Case II, respectively. Additionally, a feed-in tariff of $0.00 and $0.04 per injected kWh of electricity into the AC mains was considered. The annual return in USD and the return on investment were considered as economic parameters. A small solar power plant with a peak power of up to 3 kW can achieve a high ROI between 70% and 100%. Due to reduced future cost prospects, this ROI could increase to 90% to 130%. However, such a plant can only reach a maximum self-sufficiency of about 40%, as most of the electricity is consumed during nights. A 4 kW power plant can achieve a self-sufficiency of about one-third for an ROI of 57% to 82%, costing approximately $1330 to $1760. When using battery energy storage, a self-sufficiency of 95% has been targeted. With battery storage, the maximum ROI varies from 22.5% to 32.0% with an investment cost of about $9590 to $13,139.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-b1a225f4a85943979c30a184e853884e2025-08-20T03:43:15ZengMDPI AGElectricity2673-48262025-02-0161510.3390/electricity6010005Solar Power Potential in Africa: A Case Study on Cost Reduction in a Malian Household Through Photovoltaic Solar Power and Lithium-Ion Battery StorageMadani Drave0Felix Mannerhagen1Anton Kersten2Richard Eckerle3Thealfaqar A. Abdul-Jabbar4Furqan A. Abbas5Branko Ban6Yu Xu7Manuel Kuder8Thomas Weyh9Mats Leijon10Department of Electrical Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyDepartment of Engineering Science, University West, 46132 Trollhättan, SwedenDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyDepartment of Operation and Control, Ministry of Electricity-Iraq, Baghdad 10011, IraqDirectorate General for the Transmission of Electrical Energy Projects, Ministry of Electricity-Iraq, Baghdad 10011, IraqTorquery Consulting, 41830 Göteborg, SwedenZeekr Technology Europe AB, Pumpgatan 1, 41755 Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Bundeswehr University Munich, 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Uppsala University, 75121 Uppsala, SwedenThis study explores the potential for PV solar power and battery storage to reduce energy costs in a typical Malian single-family household, highlighting significant cost savings and improved energy reliability. The high solar irradiance throughout the year makes solar power viable for household energy needs. However, most electricity is consumed at night due to air conditioning, with an annual consumption of 12,504 kWh. Cost models for solar power plants and battery energy storage systems, including installation, were developed. Cost parameters were reviewed using the latest literature, distinguishing between current and future cost trends, referred to as Case I and Case II, respectively. Additionally, a feed-in tariff of $0.00 and $0.04 per injected kWh of electricity into the AC mains was considered. The annual return in USD and the return on investment were considered as economic parameters. A small solar power plant with a peak power of up to 3 kW can achieve a high ROI between 70% and 100%. Due to reduced future cost prospects, this ROI could increase to 90% to 130%. However, such a plant can only reach a maximum self-sufficiency of about 40%, as most of the electricity is consumed during nights. A 4 kW power plant can achieve a self-sufficiency of about one-third for an ROI of 57% to 82%, costing approximately $1330 to $1760. When using battery energy storage, a self-sufficiency of 95% has been targeted. With battery storage, the maximum ROI varies from 22.5% to 32.0% with an investment cost of about $9590 to $13,139.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4826/6/1/5Africaelectricitybattery energy storagelithium-ion batteryphotovoltaicrenewable energy
spellingShingle Madani Drave
Felix Mannerhagen
Anton Kersten
Richard Eckerle
Thealfaqar A. Abdul-Jabbar
Furqan A. Abbas
Branko Ban
Yu Xu
Manuel Kuder
Thomas Weyh
Mats Leijon
Solar Power Potential in Africa: A Case Study on Cost Reduction in a Malian Household Through Photovoltaic Solar Power and Lithium-Ion Battery Storage
Electricity
Africa
electricity
battery energy storage
lithium-ion battery
photovoltaic
renewable energy
title Solar Power Potential in Africa: A Case Study on Cost Reduction in a Malian Household Through Photovoltaic Solar Power and Lithium-Ion Battery Storage
title_full Solar Power Potential in Africa: A Case Study on Cost Reduction in a Malian Household Through Photovoltaic Solar Power and Lithium-Ion Battery Storage
title_fullStr Solar Power Potential in Africa: A Case Study on Cost Reduction in a Malian Household Through Photovoltaic Solar Power and Lithium-Ion Battery Storage
title_full_unstemmed Solar Power Potential in Africa: A Case Study on Cost Reduction in a Malian Household Through Photovoltaic Solar Power and Lithium-Ion Battery Storage
title_short Solar Power Potential in Africa: A Case Study on Cost Reduction in a Malian Household Through Photovoltaic Solar Power and Lithium-Ion Battery Storage
title_sort solar power potential in africa a case study on cost reduction in a malian household through photovoltaic solar power and lithium ion battery storage
topic Africa
electricity
battery energy storage
lithium-ion battery
photovoltaic
renewable energy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4826/6/1/5
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