Mwinda Project: Data-driven solutions for people-centered electrification in the DRC
KTH, Resource Matters, University of Cape Town and Reiner Lemoine Institut partnered to develop a least-cost electrification platform for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as part of Resource Matters ongoing commitments in the country. KTH contributes with expertise on, and development of, the Open Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET), used to examine the least-cost technologies for increased access to electricity in the country.
Background
The DRC has vast energy resources. However, only 9-15% of the more than its 80 million inhabitants have intermittent access to electricity. With this project, the partners aim to provide data and knowledge to civil society organizations and other stakeholders to contribute to their quest for increased, more equitable, cleaner electricity production and distribution, and to inform future developments and policies in the DRC electricity sector.
In addition to the project partners, several Congolese civil society organizations members of the Mwangaza Network, a coalition of Congolese NGOs aiming to contribute to the recovery of the electricity sector in DRC, are engaged throughout the project.
Aim and objectives
The projects aims to develop an interactive platform that displays the cheapest solutions to electrify each populated area of the DRC and other useful data for electrification analysis such as electricity demand, energy sources, electric networks, etc. The tool is deliberately focused on the provision of electricity to households through a combination of centralized (grid) and decentralized (mini-grids and solar panels) electrification solutions, rather than only centralized solutions.
Project partners
Project partners: Resource Matters, University of Cape Town, Reiner Lemoine Institut
Funding is provided by American Jewish World Services.
Timeframe: 2020 - 2022
Researchers
Publications
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The least-cost electrification scenarios developed as part of this project can be explored on the Congo Epela Platform: congoepela.resourcematters.org/about