This review explores the research activities surrounding the development and integration of smart electricity grids in Burkina Faso, a landlocked and arid territory in West Africa and one of the poorest countries in the world with significant energy challenges. It examines the current state of energy infrastructure in Burkina Faso, focusing on the integration of renewable energy sources, particularly solar photovoltaics. It highlights the role of smart grid technologies in enabling the efficient integration of renewable energy, improving grid stability and facilitating rural electrification. Additionally, the review addresses key challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, regulatory gaps and financial constraints that hinder the deployment of smart grids in the country. By analysing existing research and ongoing projects, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and barriers to implementing a smart electricity grid in Burkina Faso and offers recommendations for future development and policy frameworks.
KeywordsSmart GridSmart BuildingDecentralised Energy ProductionPhotovoltaicRenewable Energy
World Bank Data: Access to Electricity (% of Population)—Burkina Faso. Data. https://worldbank.org
Sonabel: “Les chiffres-clés de la Sonabel 2022”. https://www.sonabel.bf/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Chiffres-cles.pdf
Taha, M.Q. (2020) Advantages and Recent Advances of Smart Energy Grid. Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics , 9, 1739-1746. https://doi.org/10.11591/eei.v9i5.2358
Bari, A., Jiang, J., Saad, W. and Jaekel, A. (2014) Challenges in the Smart Grid Applications: An Overview. International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks , 10, Article ID: 974682. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/974682
Ministère des Mines et de l’Energie (2013) Politique sectorielle de l’energie 2014-2025. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjk0ZysmY-KAxUvU0EAHQwgGp8QFnoECBYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Feira.energycharter.org%2Fcomponent%2Fattachments%2Fattachments.html%3Fid%3D1954%26task%3Ddownload&usg=AOvVaw3vIIx_EURMiWGI5Cx5YUFS&opi=89978449
Plan Solaire Burkina Faso (2019) Projet Yeleen-Composante Ouaga nord-ouest et ligne 90 kV Cadrage et étude de faisabilité de centrales solaires photo-voltaïques. Rapport d’étude d’impact environnemental et social-version finale Juillet. https://esa.afdb.org/sites/default/files/Plan_solaire_BF_EIES_Ouaga%20NO_ligne%2090kv_VF_20190724.pdf
Projet de construction de centrales photovoltaïques avec stockage (4560 Ah) dans les CMA. https://www.energie-mines.gov.bf/le-ministere/les-structures/details?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=75&cHash=596599f1f2bf57916395ac0142de1bae
Projet d’électrification de 300 localités rurales par système solaire photovoltaïque. https://www.energie-mines.gov.bf/le-ministere/les-structures/details?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=76&cHash=35a81cd64ea88e6d80f0bbab1fa6c6c7
Projet d’installation de systèmes solaires photovoltaïques sur les bâtiments publics. https://www.energie-mines.gov.bf/le-ministere/les-structures/details?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=77&cHash=a7061c5a3cf2993d0e2729f66c2f3225
Projet Yeleen de développement de centrales solaires photovoltaïques et de renforcement du système électrique national. https://www.energie-mines.gov.bf/politique-et-strategies/projet-yeleen
Loi n˚014-2017/an portant reglementation generale du secteur de l’energie. https://www.energie-mines.gov.bf/fileadmin/user_upload/stockage/documents/loi_014-2017_portant_reglementation_gle_du_secteur_de_l_electricite.pdf
Sautter, J.A., Landis, J. and Dworkin, M.H. (2009) The Energy Trilemma in the Green Mountain State: An Analysis of Vermont’s Energy Challenges and Policy Options. Vermont Journal of Environmental Law , 10, 477.
Gharavi, H. and Ghafurian, R. (2011) Smart Grid: The Electric Energy System of the Future [Scanning the Issue]. Proceedings of the IEEE , 99, 917-921. https://doi.org/10.1109/jproc.2011.2124210
European Commission (2006) European SmartGrids Technology Platform: Vision and Strategy for Europe’s Electricity. http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/smartgrids_en.pdf
Department of Energy and Climate Change UK (2009) Smarter Grids: The Opportunity.
U.S. Department of Energy, Smart Grid System Report (2009, July). https://www.energy.gov/oe/articles/2009-smart-grid-system-report-july-2009
International Energy Agency (2011, April) Technology Roadmap Smart Grids. https://www.isea.org.il/_files/ugd/61a1db_383d499740864f39a6b1cf475fdaa93c.pdf
Ekanayake, J., Liyanage, K., Wu, J.Z., Yokoyama, A. and Jen-Kins, N. (2012) Smart Grid Technology and Applications. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Moner-Girona, M., Bódis, K., Huld, T., Kougias, I. and Szabó, S. (2016) Universal Access to Electricity in Burkina Faso: Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Technologies. Environmental Research Letters , 11, Article ID: 084010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/11/8/084010
Jiang, Z., Li, F., Qiao, W., Sun, H., Wan, H., Wang, J., et al . (2009) A Vision of Smart Transmission Grids. 2009 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting , Calgary, 26-30 July 2009, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1109/pes.2009.5275431
Kazmi, S.A.A., Shahzad, M.K., Khan, A.Z. and Shin, D.R. (2017) Smart Distribution Networks: A Review of Modern Distribution Concepts from a Planning Perspective. Energies , 10, Article No. 501. https://doi.org/10.3390/en10040501
Societe Nationale d’Electricite du Burkina (Sonabel): Rapport d’activité 2022. https://www.sonabel.bf/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Rapport-dActivites-2022-avec-compression.pdf
Ministère des Mines et de l’Energie: Plan d’Action National des Energies Re-nouvelables (PANER) Période [2015-2020/2030]. https://www.se4all-africa.org/fileadmin/uploads/se4all/Documents/Country_PANER/Burkina_Faso_Plan_d_Actions_National_pour_les_Energies_Renouvelables.pdf
World Bank (2021) Burkina Faso-Solar Energy and Access Project. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/988101624586517351/pdf/Burkina-Faso-Solar-Energy-and-Access-Project.pdf
Bollinger, L., Amoroso, R., Richaud, L., Clémence, M., Mouchel, Y., Siarras, S., et al . (2021) Modelling and Control of the Low Voltage Network with Smart-Meters to Improve the Reliability of Supply in Burkina Faso, the Africit-E Project. IET Conference Proceedings , 2021, 2173-2177. https://doi.org/10.1049/icp.2021.1544
Grosjean, B., Lassauce, A., Richaud, L., Bayanma, C., Mouchel, Y., Siarras, S., et al . (2023) Demand Response Using Remote Modification of Smart-Meters’ Subscribed Power to Protect Low-Voltage Feeders in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. IET Conference Proceedings , 2023, 3645-3649. https://doi.org/10.1049/icp.2023.0782
IEC—International Electrotechnical Commission: Transmission and Distribution. https://www.iec.ch/system/files/2024-05/2024_iec_transmission_a4_en_lr.pdf
Ministere de L’energie: Stratégie dans le domaine de l’énergie 2019-2023. https://energie.bf/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Stratégie_Secteur-énergie.pdf
Société Nationale D’Électricité du Burkina (Sonabel). Grille tarifaire applicable à partir du 1er octobre 2023. https://www.sonabel.bf/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Grille-Tarifaire.pdf
Tuballa, M.L. and Abundo, M.L. (2016) A Review of the Development of Smart Grid Technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews , 59, 710-725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.01.011
Tinta, A.A., Sylla, A.Y. and Lankouande, E. (2023) Solar PV Adoption in Rural Burkina Faso. Energy , 278, Article ID: 127762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.127762
Abid, H., Thakur, J., Khatiwada, D. and Bauner, D. (2021) Energy Storage Integration with Solar PV for Increased Electricity Access: A Case Study of Burkina Faso. Energy , 230, Article ID: 120656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.120656
Palm, S.F., Waita, S., Nyangonda, T. and Chebak, A. (2022). Performance Study of a Grid Connected Solar PV System in Zagtouli, Burkina Faso. 2022 IEEE PES / IAS PowerAfrica , Kigali, 22-26 August 2022, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1109/powerafrica53997.2022.9905290
Tete, K.H.S., Soro, Y.M. and Sidibé, S.S. (2023). Trends in the Use of Domestic Appliances in Urban Residential Households in Burkina Faso: Results from a Residential Electricity Consumption Survey. 2023 11 th International Conference on Smart Grid ( icSmartGrid ), Paris, 4-7 June 2023, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1109/icsmartgrid58556.2023.10170921