Regional Assessment of Energy Trends in West Africa Using GIS

Abstract

In a globalizing world where development hinges on access to modern energy services, many regard renewables as catalysts for regional economic advancement. Yet, various parts of Africa lack access to modern energy services along with relevant spatial information tools to support decision making. It is also the only place in the globe where a major portion of the inhabitants stay without adequate electricity. Tracking renewable trends spatially remains the ideal way to improve access to energy services sustainably and efficiently as opposed to the other options. The matter is compounded by many limiting factors to energy security in West Africa such as poor system reliability, inadequate infrastructure and fuel import dependence. Seeing the positive linkage between energy access and growth, increasing access to renewable services through electricity and other services serves a vital purpose for the West African region. While identifying current developments in West Africa’s renewable energy sector remains essential in understanding its potential, attaining it requires improvements to current approaches to energy management through new knowledge and spatial analysis of energy undertakings using GIS. In that light, the projected development of renewable energy in the region cannot be attained without complete and reliable information calibrated in a GIS environment. Accordingly, this paper focuses on regional assessment of energy in West Africa with emphasis on the issues, trends, factors, impacts and efforts. Using a mix scale method of descriptive statistics and GIS, the results show that the region has untapped renewable energy potentials spread across many nations. This is followed by changes in a set of renewable energy categories that are germane to regional development due to socio-economic factors. GIS mapping of the trends also reveals gradual dispersal of energy security predictors clustered around many localities. For future lines of action, the paper suggests the need for effective policy, continual use of GIS and the design of a regional energy information system for West Africa.