Delivering energy access in the developing world

 Around the world today, most global conversations concerning energy are about building a pathway to a low-carbon future, the energy transition, net-zero carbon goals and the post-COVID world, however a number of countries are still working to bring electricity to large segments of their populations.

Finding a lasting and sustainable solution for this enduring prevalence of energy poverty, is urgent, because electricity is essential in helping emerging economies power the manufacturing, industry and critical infrastructure required for economic development and a better quality of life for their citizens.

Three approaches for energy access

For these countries, there are three approaches that can help meet the demand for energy access, while building a more sustainable energy system.

The first approach is to build new high efficiency generating capacity through a mix of natural gas and renewables. Including natural gas in new capacity is important because the state of technology today means renewables-only can lead to grid instability and because gas power technology can bring lots of reliable electricity online relatively quickly.

Gas power plants also have a smaller footprint, compared with most renewables – important in a country like Bangladesh, with limited available land for large-scale solar PV plants and weather that makes wind power onshore and offshore more challenging.

In countries like South Africa with a large installed base of coal-fired power, gradually replacing these plants with renewables and natural gas can both enhance supply reliability and significantly reduce emissions since natural gas produces half the CO2 emissions of a coal plant and renewables produces zero emissions. 

The second approach is to make the most of existing capacity by implementing regular technology upgrades, maintenance, and services. These are low-CAPEX approaches that help plants operate at peak performance and increase capacity to serve more homes, even when using the same amount of fuel.

Third, we must recognize that many communities in developing countries are far from established grid transmission lines and therefore require a distributed energy approach that taps both renewables and mobile aeroderivative gas turbines.

GE expertise in developing countries

These approaches are informed by our own experience working to build energy capacity globally, and particularly in emerging economies.

In Bangladesh, GE is helping add vital capacity through a range of gas turbine technologies – from the world’s most efficient H-class that will power two new combined-cycle gas power plant projects near Dhaka to a portable aeroderivative that will be powering a 100 MW gas power plant in Shahjibazar.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, our maintenance programs and upgrades to existing power plants have improved reliability and expanded generating capacity in several countries. In Ivory Coast and Nigeria, our MXL2 turbine upgrade increased output by 30 megawatts (MW) at the Azito III plant and the Afam VI combined-cycle power plant respectively.

Through a combination of building new natural gas and renewable energy capacity, upgrading and maintaining existing assets, and deploying distributed generation technologies, developing countries can secure the electricity their economies need for growth, while also ensuring a sustainable energy infrastructure built for the future.