Page 91 - A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Energy Systems

86 A COMPrEHENSIVE GUIdE TO SOlAr ENErGy SySTEMS

FIGURE 5.4 Population density in Africa [15].
highest rate of urbanization: 4% [14], and by 2050, the UN projects that approximately
55% of the population here will live in urban areas [13]. The growth rate of both total and
urban populations is putting more pressure on the land to supply food and energy; more
than 80% of SSA still relies on wood for fuel, and without infrastructure in place to reliably
supply alternative energy for this growing population, deforestation (and subsequent land
degradation) rates will continue to increase [14].
As of 2014, electricity in SSA was provided mainly from coal (45%), hydropower (22%),
oil (17%), gas (14%), nuclear (2%) and renewables such as wind and solar PV (<1%) [16].
diesel-powered generators are frequently used to supplement unreliable electricity