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Analysis of the Energy Supply and Demand of Solar PV Plants Installed in Rural Areas of the Far North Region of Cameroon

Received: 15 May 2025     Accepted: 30 June 2025     Published: 4 July 2025
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Abstract

In Sub-Saharan Africa, electricity access is severely limited in rural areas, despite the abundance of sunlight. This poses a significant challenge to rural electrification initiatives, which are crucial for sustainable development. In light of this, the government of Cameroon has initiated the deployment of several solar power plants in rural regions. However, there is sometimes an imbalance between energy supply and demand, depending on the power plant's installed capacity and the size of the population. A life-cycle study is therefore being carried out in rural areas of Cameroon's Far North region with solar power plants. The study involves analyzing the balance between electricity supply and four modes of electricity consumption. These modes depend on the percentage of households that subscribe to a subscription: 100%, 50%, or 30%. The final scenario considers the International Energy Agency's (IEA) projections, wherein each Cameroonian is expected to consume 280 kWh/person/year. The findings suggest that the solar power plants installed are oversized for low-voltage domestic use, even in scenarios where 100% of households subscribe. It is only possible to achieve a balance between supply and demand from the 23rd year of operation in densely populated localities, and only if all households subscribe. If all households hold a combined domestic and non-domestic subscription, it is anticipated that demand will exceed supply between the first and seventh years of operation. The validity of this forecast is contingent upon two key variables: installed capacity and population density. Should 50% of households subscribe, it is estimated that solar power plants will encounter difficulties within the 8 to 13-year timeframe. Consequently, solar power plants will be capable of supplying less than 30% of households until the conclusion of the project.

Published in International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy (Volume 14, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11
Page(s) 134-146
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Rural Electrification, Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant, Electricity Supply, Electricity Demand, Modelling, Far North Region, Cameroon

References
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    Goron, D., Assoualaye, G., Babikir, M. H. (2025). Analysis of the Energy Supply and Demand of Solar PV Plants Installed in Rural Areas of the Far North Region of Cameroon. International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy, 14(3), 134-146. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11

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    ACS Style

    Goron, D.; Assoualaye, G.; Babikir, M. H. Analysis of the Energy Supply and Demand of Solar PV Plants Installed in Rural Areas of the Far North Region of Cameroon. Int. J. Sustain. Green Energy 2025, 14(3), 134-146. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11

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    AMA Style

    Goron D, Assoualaye G, Babikir MH. Analysis of the Energy Supply and Demand of Solar PV Plants Installed in Rural Areas of the Far North Region of Cameroon. Int J Sustain Green Energy. 2025;14(3):134-146. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11,
      author = {Deli Goron and Gustave Assoualaye and Mahamat Hassane Babikir},
      title = {Analysis of the Energy Supply and Demand of Solar PV Plants Installed in Rural Areas of the Far North Region of Cameroon},
      journal = {International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy},
      volume = {14},
      number = {3},
      pages = {134-146},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsge.20251403.11},
      abstract = {In Sub-Saharan Africa, electricity access is severely limited in rural areas, despite the abundance of sunlight. This poses a significant challenge to rural electrification initiatives, which are crucial for sustainable development. In light of this, the government of Cameroon has initiated the deployment of several solar power plants in rural regions. However, there is sometimes an imbalance between energy supply and demand, depending on the power plant's installed capacity and the size of the population. A life-cycle study is therefore being carried out in rural areas of Cameroon's Far North region with solar power plants. The study involves analyzing the balance between electricity supply and four modes of electricity consumption. These modes depend on the percentage of households that subscribe to a subscription: 100%, 50%, or 30%. The final scenario considers the International Energy Agency's (IEA) projections, wherein each Cameroonian is expected to consume 280 kWh/person/year. The findings suggest that the solar power plants installed are oversized for low-voltage domestic use, even in scenarios where 100% of households subscribe. It is only possible to achieve a balance between supply and demand from the 23rd year of operation in densely populated localities, and only if all households subscribe. If all households hold a combined domestic and non-domestic subscription, it is anticipated that demand will exceed supply between the first and seventh years of operation. The validity of this forecast is contingent upon two key variables: installed capacity and population density. Should 50% of households subscribe, it is estimated that solar power plants will encounter difficulties within the 8 to 13-year timeframe. Consequently, solar power plants will be capable of supplying less than 30% of households until the conclusion of the project.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Analysis of the Energy Supply and Demand of Solar PV Plants Installed in Rural Areas of the Far North Region of Cameroon
    AU  - Deli Goron
    AU  - Gustave Assoualaye
    AU  - Mahamat Hassane Babikir
    Y1  - 2025/07/04
    PY  - 2025
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11
    T2  - International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy
    JF  - International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy
    JO  - International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy
    SP  - 134
    EP  - 146
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1549
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsge.20251403.11
    AB  - In Sub-Saharan Africa, electricity access is severely limited in rural areas, despite the abundance of sunlight. This poses a significant challenge to rural electrification initiatives, which are crucial for sustainable development. In light of this, the government of Cameroon has initiated the deployment of several solar power plants in rural regions. However, there is sometimes an imbalance between energy supply and demand, depending on the power plant's installed capacity and the size of the population. A life-cycle study is therefore being carried out in rural areas of Cameroon's Far North region with solar power plants. The study involves analyzing the balance between electricity supply and four modes of electricity consumption. These modes depend on the percentage of households that subscribe to a subscription: 100%, 50%, or 30%. The final scenario considers the International Energy Agency's (IEA) projections, wherein each Cameroonian is expected to consume 280 kWh/person/year. The findings suggest that the solar power plants installed are oversized for low-voltage domestic use, even in scenarios where 100% of households subscribe. It is only possible to achieve a balance between supply and demand from the 23rd year of operation in densely populated localities, and only if all households subscribe. If all households hold a combined domestic and non-domestic subscription, it is anticipated that demand will exceed supply between the first and seventh years of operation. The validity of this forecast is contingent upon two key variables: installed capacity and population density. Should 50% of households subscribe, it is estimated that solar power plants will encounter difficulties within the 8 to 13-year timeframe. Consequently, solar power plants will be capable of supplying less than 30% of households until the conclusion of the project.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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