Congo / Ethiopia / Nigeria Using intelligent data analysis to generate more green electricity

Although the conditions are ideal for abundant, environmentally friendly electricity from solar and wind energy, around 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live without a reliable electricity supply. As a result, many households have no internet access, for example, and entrepreneurs are unable to make sufficient use of modern technology and digital applications to establish themselves on the market or produce more efficiently. Key service providers such as health centres also need a continuous power supply, for example to cool vaccines or operate medical equipment.

But where is there sufficient potential for reliable energy infrastructures? Where is the need most urgent? Investors, companies and governments are only able to take action if they have precise analyses. However, this is not easy: surveys of individual villages take a long time and are often inaccurate or incorrect. The VIDA software developed by the Munich-based company of the same name offers a targeted solution. This is backed up by training for local institutions and the provision of components for the installation of energy systems.

With the help of satellite images, big data and artificial intelligence, the VIDA software determines precise data to assess the potential for and risks to investments in energy infrastructures and to enable the use of renewable energies. VIDA accesses satellite images from the European and US space agencies, ESA and NASA. Using night-time images, the AI-supported software identifies, for example, non-electrified areas and the size, density and population of villages. It also determines the size and vitality of agricultural land so as to estimate the energy required for its cultivation. In a dedicated user interface and a database, users can gain an overview of the data and better weigh up their investment opportunities. 

VIDA also trains local institutions such as ministries, funders and private energy developers in more than 40 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, in the use of the software and creates a common platform for all stakeholders. This will gradually give more households and small businesses in sub-Saharan Africa access to green electricity.

The introduction of VIDA technology provides access to renewable energy for around 10,000 households and small businesses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and Nigeria. The supply of green electricity from renewable energy sources offers the population sustainable development prospects. VIDA was able to tap into a new market for its software, its systems technology and a financing offer.

• VIDA successfully marketed its software to six local institutions such as ministries, funders and private energy developers in sub-Saharan Africa and trained them in its use.
• 5,000 households in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa have access to electricity;
  a further 5,000 households and small businesses are to be connected.