The European Commission’s Joint Research centre has published a report analysing the potential for renewable energy sources in Africa. The report is mostly concerned with off-grid or mini-grid installations. It compares diesel with PV and has determined that PV is more cost-competitive in inland areas, while diesel remains more cost-competitive in the north, south and western parts of the continent, attributed mostly to transportation costs.
The report states that 1.4 billion people – 20% of the world’s population – has no access to any form of electricity – renewable or otherwise.