Abstract
Energy efficiency, coupled with distributed renewable generation, is not only relevant to decrease the energy consumption and environmental emissions, but is also a large opportunity in terms of job creation and development of new business areas that stimulate investment (foreign and national). Moreover, energy efficiency and off-grid systems are a cost-effective strategy for a fast increase the number of people with energy access, as well as a way to fulfil the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals no. 7 by 2030. In Mozambique, in 2020, despite the significant efforts made by national authorities, only 32% of the inhabitants have access to electricity services. This paper presents an overview on the Mozambique electricity sector (grid-connected and off-grid) and how electric mobility, digitalization and energy efficiency may help the country to increase its electricity access rate. A characterization of Mozambique renewable energy potential per energy source, as well as the energy-efficient technology options in each sector, is carried out. Additionally, several key actions to improve energy access and to promote energy efficiency in Mozambique are also addressed. A variety of projects and key actions, addressing both the supply side and the demand side, is presented within this paper, supported by tailored policies and programs.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Prices calculated in 2018.
Abbreviations
- AC:
-
Air conditioning
- ADEL Sofala:
-
Local Economic Development Agency of Sofala (Agência de Desenvolvimento Económico Local de Sofala)
- ADPP:
-
People to People Development Assistance (Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo)
- ARENE:
-
National Energy Regulator Authority (Autoridade Reguladora de Energia)
- BAUS:
-
Business-as-usual scenario
- CO2 :
-
Carbon dioxide
- DSOs:
-
Distribution system operators
- E-bus:
-
Electric bus
- EDM:
-
Mozambique Power Utility (Eletricidade de Moçambique)
- EE:
-
Energy efficiency
- EESAP:
-
Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan
- ESCO:
-
Energy Service Company
- EU:
-
European Union
- EVs:
-
Electric vehicles
- FEDESMO:
-
Mozambican Forum for Energy and Sustainable Development (Fórum de Energias e Desenvolvimento Sustentável de Mozambique)
- FUNAE:
-
Energy Fund (Fundo de Energia)
- GEAP:
-
Mozambique Green Economy Action Plan
- GoM:
-
Government of Mozambique
- HCB:
-
Cahora Bassa Dam (Hidroelétrica de Cahora Bassa)
- HESS:
-
High electricity savings scenario
- HVAC:
-
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
- ICT:
-
Information and communication technologies
- ICV:
-
Internal combustion vehicles
- IEA:
-
International Energy Agency
- IoT:
-
Internet of things
- IPP:
-
Independent power producers
- LCOE:
-
Levelized cost of energy
- LED:
-
Light-emitting diode
- LESS:
-
Low electricity savings scenario
- LNG:
-
Liquefied natural gas
- M&V:
-
Measurement and verification
- MEEC:
-
Mozambique Energy Efficiency Centre
- MEPS:
-
Minimum energy performance standards
- MESS:
-
Medium electricity savings scenario
- MIREME:
-
Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy
- NGO:
-
Non-governmental organization
- PAYG:
-
Pay as you go
- PV:
-
Solar photovoltaic
- RE:
-
Renewable energy
- REA:
-
Renewable Energy Atlas
- SADC:
-
Southern African Development Community
- SDGs:
-
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- SHS:
-
Solar home systems
- USD:
-
US dollar
- VAT:
-
Value-added tax
References
Africa Development Forum & World Bank (2019). Electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa – Uptake, reliability and complementary factors for economic impact. Access in May 2021. Retrieved in from: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/31333/9781464813610.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y
Helene Ahlborg, Linus Hammar, Drivers and barriers to rural electrification in Tanzania and Mozambique – Grid-extension, off-grid, and renewable energy technologies, Renewable Energy, Volume 61, Pages 117–124, ISSN 0960–1481, 2014. Accessed in April 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014811200657X
ALER (2016) – Ponto de situação das energias renováveis em Moçambique (Renewable energy situation report). Accessed in November 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.aler-renovaveis.org/pt/actividades/publicacoes/
ALER (2017) – Renewable Energy Atlas - Ponto de situação das energias renováveis em Moçambique (Renewable energy situation report). Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.aler-renovaveis.org/contents/lerpublication/aler_2017_oct_relatorio-nacional-ponto-situacao-renovaveis-em-mocambique.pdf
de Almeida, A., Moura, P., & Quaresma, N. (2019). Energy-efficient off-grid systems - Review. Energy Efficiency, 1–28. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-019-09813-y
de Almeida A.T., Moura P., Quaresma N. (2020) Off-grid sustainable energy systems for rural electrification. In: Leal Filho W., Azul A., Brandli L., Lange Salvia A., Wall T. (eds) Affordable and clean energy. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71057-0_68-1
Ali Sulaiman Alsagri, Abdulrahman A. Alrobaian, Mohamed Nejlaoui, Techno-economic evaluation of an off-grid health clinic considering the current and future energy challenges: A rural case study, Renewable Energy, Volume 169, 2021, Pages 34–52, ISSN 0960–1481, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.01.017. Accessed in July 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148121000239.
Marie-Louise Barry, Herman Steyn, Alan Brent. Selection of renewable energy technologies for Africa: Eight case studies in Rwanda, Tanzania and Malawi, Renewable Energy, Volume 36, Issue 11, 2011, Pages 2845–2852, ISSN 0960–1481.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.04.016. Accessed in July 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148111001881.
CLASP (2021a). Collaborative Labelling and Appliance Standards Program. VERASOL- Quality assurance program for distributed solar solutions, appliances, and equipment. Accessed in April 2021a. Retrieved from: https://www.clasp.ngo/programmes/brands/verasol/
CLASP (2021b). Collaborative Labelling and Appliance Standards Program. CLASP annual report 2019. Overview on the evolution of off-grid solar quality assurance toolkit. Accessed in April 2021b. Retrieved from: https://issuu.com/claspngo/docs/clasp-annualreport-2019
Clube of Mozambique – Daily journal (2021). News blog by Adrian Frey. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://clubofmozambique.com/news/breaking-accident-causes-havoc-on-matola-maputo-road/
EDM – Eletricidade de Moçambique E.P. (2020a). Relatórios de Contas 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,2014, 2015, 2017 e 2019 – Annual reports. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.edm.co.mz/en/website/page/reports
EDM – Eletricidade de Moçambique E.P. (2020b). Strategy report 2018–2028. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.edm.co.mz/en/website/page/reports
Ministério da Energia de Moçambique - Estratégia de Desenvolvimento de Energias Novas e Renováveis (Renewable energy development strategy for Moçambique 2011–2025) Accessed in October 2020. Retrieved from: https://energypedia.info/images/f/fa/PT-Estrategias_de_Desenvolvimento_de_E._Novas_e_Renovaveis-Ministerio_da_Energia.pdf
Ministério da Energia de Moçambique – Política de Energias novas e renováveis (Renewable energy policies). Accessed in October 2020. Retrieved from: https://energypedia.info/images/1/1c/PT_Pol%C3%ADtica_de_Desenvolvimento_de_Energias_Novas_e_Renov%C3%A1veis_em_Mo%C3%A7ambique-Biomassa_Direc%C3%A7%C3%A3o_Nacional_de_Energias_Novas_e_IEARenov%C3%A1veis.pdf
E-tech news portal. IEC 62257 -Quality standard for off-grid equipment. IEC promotes off-grid electricity access with new standard. Accessed in April 2021. Retrieved from: https://etech.iec.ch/issue/2020-04/iec-promotes-off-grid-electricity-access-with-new-standard
Galuszka, J.; Martin, E.;Nkurunziza, A.; Achieng’ Oginga, J.; Senyagwa, J.; Teko, E.; Lah, O. East Africa’s policy and stakeholder integration of informal operators in electric mobility transitions—Kigali, Nairobi, Kisumu and Dar es Salaam. Sustainability 2021,13, 1703. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041703. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1703
GET.invest (2019). Mobilizing renewable energy investments platform - European programme to mobilize investments in decentralised renewable energy projects. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.get-invest.eu/about-recp/
IASS (2019). Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies – Exploring the nexus of mini-grids and digital technologies. Potentials, challenges and options for sustainable energy access in sub-Saharan Africa. Access in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.iass-potsdam.de/en/output/iass-studies
IEA (2017a) Energy Access Outlook 2017a: From poverty to prosperity. International Energy Agency (IEA), Paris, France. Access in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/WEO2017aSpecialReport_EnergyAccessOutlook.pdf
IEA (2017b). International Energy Agency. Digitalization and energy. Accessed in May 2021. https://www.iea.org/reports/digitalisation-and-energy
IEA, I. U. (2018). Tracking SDG7 - The energy progress report.
IEA 2018a – International Energy Agency. IEA country profiles – Mozambique key statistics for 2018a. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.iea.org/countries/mozambique
IEA (2018b). International Energy Agency. Webinar presentation on Digitalization & Energy. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/e5ffa993-ef78-49f7-8cfa-5375a41d074e/ieadigitalizationandenergywebinar-180220161419.pdf
IEA 2019 – International Energy Agency. World Energy Outlook special report – Africa Energy Outlook 2019. Overview of Mozambique. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/1d996108-18cc-41d7-9da3-55496cec6310/AEO2019_MOZAMBIQUE.pdf
IEE-Intelligent Energy Europe. Microgrids – Promotion of microgrids and renewable energy sources for electrification in developing countries – Final Report. Accessed in May 2021.
IEE-Intelligent Energy Europe. Microgrids – Promotion of microgrids and renewable energy sources for electrification in developing countries. Strengthening local energy expertise in developing countries - Impact report 2008. Accessed in May 2021.
IEE-Intelligent Energy Europe. Microgrids – Promotion of microgrids and renewable energy sources for electrification in developing countries - Solar kit design. Accessed in May 2021.
INE – Instituto Nacional de Estatística de Moçambique. n.d. Estatísticas demográficas e projeções 2007–2040. Accessed in November 2020. Retrieved from: http://www.ine.gov.mz/estatisticas/estatisticas-demograficas-e-indicadores-sociais/projeccoes-da-populacao/mocambique_projeccoes_2007_2040.xls/view
INE – Instituto Nacional de Estatística de Moçambique. Estatísticas demográficas de Moçambique. Agregados Familiares por posse de bens duráveis, segundo área de residência, província e sexo do chefe do agregado familiar. Moçambique 2017. Accessed in November 2020. Retrieved from: http://www.ine.gov.mz/iv-rgph-2017/mocambique/bens-duraveis/bens-duraveis-nacionais.xlsx/view?searchterm=Bens+duraveis
Institute, Rocky Mountain (2018). Minigrids in the money – Six ways to reduce minigrid costs by 60% for rural electrification. Retrieved April 2022, from https://www.rmi.org/minigrids-money-reduce-costs/
Integrated Master Plan Mozambique Power System Development Report (2018). Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://portal.edm.co.mz/en/website/page/reports
International Energy Agency, IEA. (2018). Key energy statistics. Accessed in November 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.iea.org/countries/mozambique
Marko Mimica, Dominik Franjo Dominković, Tomislav Capuder, Goran Krajačić, On the value and potential of demand response in the smart island archipelago, Renewable Energy, Volume 176, 2021, Pages 153–168, ISSN 0960–1481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.05.043. Accesses in July 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148121007199.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands – Final energy report Mozambique. Commissioned by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. Accessed in November 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.rvo.nl/sites/default/files/2019/01/Final-Energy-report-Mozambique.pdf
MIREME (2021). Mozambique Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (Ministério dos Recursos Minerais e Energia de Moçambique). National Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan. Access in May 2021.
M. Moner-Girona, R. Ghanadan, M. Solano-Peralta, I. Kougias, K. Bódis, T. Huld, S. Szabó, Adaptation of feed-in tariff for remote mini-grids: Tanzania as an illustrative case, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 53, Pages 306–318, ISSN 1364–0321,2016. Accessed in April 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032115009181
Solarworks Mozambique (2020). Interview made in January 2021 to Mr. Miguel Sottomayor, responsible for the company business development. Accessed in April 2021. Retrieved from: https://solar-works.co.mz/pt/
P. Ortega-Arriaga, O. Babacan, J. Nelson, A. Gambhir, Grid versus off-grid electricity access options: A review on the economic and environmental impacts, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 143, 2021, 110864, ISSN 1364–0321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.110864. Accessed in July 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032121001581
Diário da República de Moçambique - Resolução nº10/2009 - Estratégia do Sector da Energia 2009–2013 (Mozambique Republic Journal, Energy sector strategy for 2009–2013). Accessed in October 2020.
SADC - Southern African Development Community (REESAP 2016–2030). n.d. Renewable Energy and energy efficiency strategy and action plan booklet. Accessed in October 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.sadc.int/documents-publications/
Solar thermal technology roadmap and implementation plan for Mozambique. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://soltrain.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/media/public/documents/Solar-Thermal-Technology-Roadmap-and-Implementation-Plan-Mozambique.pdf
Statista 2021. International statistics database. Report containing a forecast on the number of IoT devices connected worldwide. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1183457/iot-connected-devices-worldwide/
Miguel M. Uamusse, Kamshat Tussupova, Kenneth M. Persson, Lars Bengtsson & Ronny Berndtsson (2020). Access to sustainable electrification: Possibilities for rural Mozambique, Cogent Engineering, 7:1, 1765688, https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2020.1765688. Accessed in February 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2020.1765688?needAccess=true
UITP (2019). International Association of Public Transport – Advancing public transport. Financing schemes for bus electromobility in Europe. Presentation made for the Covenant of Mayor’s Investment Forum – Energy Efficiency Finance Market Place in Brussels February 2019. Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/2.3_uitp_perchel.pdf
UNFAO (2017). United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Mozambique fishery country profiles 2017. Accesses in May 2021. Retrieved from: www.fao.org/tempref/FI/document/fcp/en/FI_CP_MZ
Vegge, T., Thygesen, K. S., & Aspuru-Guzik, A. (2018). Clean energy materials innovation challenge. In Accelerating the clean energy revolution - Perspectives on innovation challenges: DTU International Energy Report 2018 (Chapter 10, pp. 81–88). Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Accessed in May 2021. Retrieved from: https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/148015448/DTU_International_Energy_Report_2018.pdf
World Bank (2018). Green light – Off-grid solar market assessment in Mozambique Final Report. Accessed in November 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.lightingafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Mozambique_off-grid-assessment.pdf
Georges Zissis, Laurent Canale, David Buso, Evangelos-Nikolaos Madias, Constantinos Bourousis, et al., Mapping the needs for trained lighting engineers in construction industry: The first outcomes from ecoslight skills alliances European project; Light & Engineering, Znack Publishing House, 2021, 29 (6), pp.6–24, https://doi.org/10.33383/2021-087. Access in April 2022.
Acknowledgements
This paper is based in the recently launched Mozambique National Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (EESAP). The study from which this publication is based was produced with the financial support of the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
This study benefited from the large experience, expert knowledge and local data input from several institutions and individuals. The authors would like to express a special appreciation to these institutions and their staff, which provided a relevant contribution to this work:
• Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME)
• Mozambique Power Utility (EDM)
• Maputo Metropolitan Transport Agency
• National Energy Regulator (ARENE)
• Confederation of Mozambique Economic Associations
• National Directorate of Energy
• Energy Fund (FUNAE)
• Mozambique National Land Transportation Institute
• National Statistics Institute
• National Institute for Standardisation and Quality
• Ministry of Transportation and Communications
• Eduardo Mondlane University
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Almeida, A., Quaresma, N. & Biosse, E. The role of energy efficiency and renewable energies to accelerate sustainable energy access — a perspective case study of Mozambique. Energy Efficiency 15, 36 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-022-10045-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-022-10045-w