Preliminary Assessment for a Sustainable and Integrated Solar-Powered Transport System in Asmara – Eritrea

Abstract

As a result of the new political stability achieved among Eritrea and Ethiopia, even though not completely consolidated after one year from the peace signed on 8 July 2018, the role of Asmara, the Eritrean capital, is under investigation to understand its potential impact on the economic and technological development of the Horn of Africa. In a region such as the Sub-Saharan one, the main challenge in energy is to guarantee a reliable electric grid based on Renewable Energy Sources (RESs). This paper proposes the development of an integrated urban mobility plan in Asmara, monitored by a performance analysis, and then it was simulated to power the service exclusively by a microgrid provided by photovoltaic panels using the software Homer pro, to sustain the demographic and economic growth of the city. From the analysis carried out, the implementation of the service required 52 e-buses, 2 e-minibuses, 7 e-taxis and 50 e-bikes. Furthermore, to economically and environmentally maintain the Project, a PV (Photovoltaic) plant with a surface area of 94,972 m2, equipped with a rated capacity of 4,966 kW. Furthermore, energy will be available at 0.1547 $/kWh. The aim of this work is to propose a future scenario of electric mobility enhancement for developing countries, evaluating their evolution over time to offer an efficient and suitable service throughout the city of Asmara.