Recent years have seen an increased popularity of small distributed solar energy systems in low-income communities in Africa and Asia, where at least 95 per cent of the off-grid population reside. Advances in LED technology resulted in improved efficiency—more light emitted per electrical input. Highly polluting lead acid batteries are becoming obsolete, replaced by higher performance lithium ion batteries that provide higher energy storage capacity, longer service life, and faster and more efficient recharging.

In 2015, total production of electricity was 228 ktoe, of which 92.1 per cent came from fossil fuels, 26.3 per cent from biofuels and waste and 3.9 per cent from hydro sources (Table 2). Final consumption of electricity in the same year was 210 ktoe (AFREC, 2015).

Total electricity produced in 2015 was 35 ktoe, with 97.1 per cent produced from fossil fuels. Final electricity consumption in 2015 was 28 ktoe (AFREC, 2015).