Reiner Lemoine Institut GmbH – The potential for hybrid PV systems (Africa)

The Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI) developed a methodology combining GIS-based data analysis and simulation models to evaluate the viability of hybrid power systems in Africa. The analysis indicates that integrating PV and battery storage into existing diesel grids can significantly lower production costs, outperforming diesel-only systems across nearly the entire continent. In most cases, renewables provide 35% to 40% of the energy, with higher shares in remote areas where fuel transportation costs are high.

• Hybridising diesel-based off-grid systems with PV and storage can significantly reduce power-generation costs for producers. Based on current world market diesel prices, these renewable-based hybrid systems are more economical than diesel-only systems across nearly the entire African continent.
• In the majority of hybrid systems, the combined share of PV and battery storage ranges from 35% to 40%. This percentage increases in very remote areas where the additional costs of transporting fuel are high.
• The RLI utilizes a methodology that integrates GIS-based data analysis with a simulation model to identify the most attractive areas for rural electrification and diesel substitution. The model uses site-specific parameters such as load demand, fuel transportation costs, and PV potential, alongside general cost parameters and diesel base prices.

APA

Alliance for Renewable Electrification (2016). Reiner Lemoine Institut GmbH – The potential for hybrid PV systems (Africa). https://renewelec.org/case-study/reiner-lemoine-institut-gmbh-potential-hybrid-pv-systems-africa/

Chicago

Alliance for Renewable Electrification. Reiner Lemoine Institut GmbH – The potential for hybrid PV systems (Africa). 2016. https://renewelec.org/case-study/reiner-lemoine-institut-gmbh-potential-hybrid-pv-systems-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |title=Reiner Lemoine Institut GmbH – The potential for hybrid PV systems (Africa) |date=2 April 2016 |url=https://renewelec.org/case-study/reiner-lemoine-institut-gmbh-potential-hybrid-pv-systems-africa/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allianceforrenewableelectrification2016reiner, author = {{Alliance for Renewable Electrification}}, title = {{Reiner Lemoine Institut GmbH – The potential for hybrid PV systems (Africa)}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, year = {2016}, month = apr, url = {https://renewelec.org/case-study/reiner-lemoine-institut-gmbh-potential-hybrid-pv-systems-africa/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }