Sustainable Hydropower in West Africa: Planning, Operation, and Challenges provides a comprehensive overview of the planning, deployment and management of hydropower in West Africa and similar regions. The authors use a practical approach to analyze available technology, modeling methodologies and sustainability aspects, such as the dependence between climate and hydropower, and socio-economic and environmental impacts. They discuss the need for innovative solutions and how to close research gaps in the field for this region. Although more than 50% of West Africa's hydropower potential is still untapped, re-engineering and maintenance of existing hydropower plants is a key issue and is discussed. Issues of productivity and optimization are also covered, as well as the introduction of new technology and integration of hydropower into existing energy systems—renewable energy systems, in particular. Policy and regulation are also examined, considering competing needs when managing water resources. The final chapter offers a summary of activities, strategies, policies and technology for easy reference and practical use. Due to its wide coverage and real life examples, this is a useful reference for engineering professionals in the field of hydropower, working in West Africa and regions with similar conditions. This book helps engineers make technology and location decisions for planning, deploying and operating hydropower plants. The book's accessible language and international authorship also allows for easy use by energy researchers, analysts and policy makers who need information for the analysis, modeling, financing, implementation and regulation of hydropower in West Africa and related regions. - Presents the most current issues related to hydropower deployment and management in West Africa and regions with similar conditions - Discusses key challenges, focusing on practical aspects and methodologies - Explores the technological, sustainability and economic aspects to be considered when deploying, operating and maintaining hydropower plants in West Africa and similar regions

This open access book presents a picture of the current energy challenges on the African continent (and the Sub-Saharan region in particular) and proposes pathways to an accelerated energy transition. Starting with an analysis of the status quo and the outlook for Africa’s energy demand and energy access, it provides an account of the available resources, including hydrocarbons and renewable energy resources, which are playing an increasingly crucial role. It then moves on to analyze the level of investment required to scale-up Africa’s energy systems, shedding light on the key barriers and elaborating on potential solutions. It also provides a suggestion for improving the effectiveness of EU–Africa cooperation. While mainly intended for policymakers and academics, this book also speaks to a broader audience interested in gaining an overview of the challenges and opportunities of the African energy sector today and in the future.

This volume highlights the abundancy of clean energy resources with which the geographical area of West Africa is endowed. It shows the pace at which the renewable energy sector is growing and how it contributes to the mitigation of global warming. The book identifies in detail the stock of various resources, the enabling business environment and the state of the development of solar and hydro power technologies.

RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH ASSESSMENT Written and edited by a team of experts in the field, this collection of papers reflects the most up-to-date and comprehensive current state of renewable energy for sustainable growth assessment and provides practical solutions for engineers and scientists. Renewable energy resources (RERs) are gaining more attention in academia and industry as one of the preferred choices of sustainable energy conversion. Due to global energy demand, environmental impacts, economic needs and social issues, RERs are encouraged and even funded by many governments around the world. Today, researchers are facing numerous challenges as this field emerges and develops, but, at the same time, new opportunities are waiting for RERs utilization in sustainable development all over the globe. Efficient energy conversion of solar, wind, biomass, fuel cells, and other techniques are gaining more popularity and are the future of energy. The present book cross-pollinates recent advances in the study of renewable energy for sustainable growth. Various applications of RERs, modeling and performance analysis, grid integration, soft computing, optimization, artificial intelligence (AI) as well as machine and deep learning aspects of RERs are extensively covered. Whether for the veteran engineer or scientist, the student, or a manager or other technician working in the field, this volume is a must-have for any library. This outstanding new volume Assesses the current and future need for energy on a global scale and reviews the role of renewable energy Includes multiple chapters on biomass and bioenergy Also includes multiple chapters on solar energy and PVs Also includes chapters on fuel cells, wind power, and many other topics Covers the design and implementation of power electronics for energy systems Outlines best practices and the state of the art for renewable energy with regard to sustainability Audience: Engineers, scientists, technicians, managers, students, and faculty working in the field of renewable energy, sustainability and power system

Energy Global energy demand has more than doubled since 1970. The use of energy is strongly related to almost every conceivable aspect of development: wealth, health, nutrition, water, infrastructure, education and even life expectancy itself are strongly and significantly related to the consumption of energy per capita. Many development indicators are strongly related to per-capita energy consumption. Fossil fuel is the most conventional source of energy but also increases greenhouse gas emissions. The economic development of many countries has come at the cost of the environment. However, it should not be presumed that a reconciliation of the two is not possible. The nexus concept is the interconnection between the resource energy, water, food, land, and climate. Such interconnections enable us to address trade-offs and seek synergies among them. Energy, water, food, land, and climate are essential resources of our natural environment and support our quality of life. Competition between these resources is increasing globally and is exacerbated by climate change. Improving resilience and securing resource availability would require improving resource efficiency. Many policies and programs are announced nationally and internationally for replacing the conventional mode and also emphasizing on conservation of fossil fuels and reuse of exhausted energy, so a gap in implications and outcomes can be broadly traced by comparing the data. This book aims to highlight problems and solutions related to conventional energy utilization, formation, and multitudes of ecological impacts and tools for the conservation of fossil fuels. The book also discusses modern energy services as one of the sustainable development goals and how the pressure on resource energy disturbs the natural flows. The recent advances in alternative energy sources and their possible future growth are discussed and on how conventional energy leads to greenhouse gas formation, which reduces energy use efficiency. The different policies and models operating is also addressed, and the gaps that remained between them. Climate change poses a challenge for renewable energy, and thus it is essential to identify the factors that would reduce the possibility of relying on sustainable energy sources. This book will be of interest to researchers and stakeholders, students, industries, NGOs, and governmental agencies directly or indirectly associated with energy research.

This book gives a special emphasis to state-of-the-art descriptions of approaches, methods, initiatives, and projects from universities, stakeholders, organizations, and civil society across the world, regarding cross-cutting issues in sustainable development. There is a perceived need for mobilizing the various stakeholders when attempting to promote sustainability in higher education and to promote best practices, which may inspire further initiatives. But despite this need, there are a few publications handling this matter in a coherent way. In order to meet the pressing need for publications which may document and disseminate examples of best practice on sustainable development at university level, the “Handbook of Best Practices in Sustainable Development at University Level” is being published. This book is produced by the European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), through the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and contains inputs from authors across all geographical regions. The book also discusses examples of initiatives coordinated by universities but involving civil society, the private sector, and public sector (including local, national, and intergovernmental bodies). In particular, it describes practical experiences, partnerships, networks, and training schemes for building capacity aimed at fostering the cause of sustainable development at institutions of higher education. Thanks to its design and the contributions by experts from various areas, it provides a welcome contribution to the literature on sustainable development, and it may inspire further works in this field.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 14th IFIP WG 5.5/SOCOLNET Advanced Doctoral Conference on Computing, Electrical and Industrial Systems, DoCEIS 2023, held in Monte da Caparica, Portugal, during July 5-7, 2022. The 22 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 47 submissions. The papers cover the following topics: energy communities; smart energy and power systems; intelligent manufacturing; health and biomedical information systems; intelligent computational systems; and electronics and communications.

Since its construction in the early 1960s, the hydroelectric Akosombo Dam across the Volta River has exemplified the possibilities and challenges of development in Ghana. Drawing upon a wealth of sources, A Dam for Africa investigates contrasting stories about how this dam has transformed a West African nation, while providing a model for other African countries. The massive Akosombo Dam is the keystone of the Volta River Project that includes a large manmade lake 250 miles long, the VALCO aluminum smelter, new cities and towns, a deep-sea harbor, and an electrical grid. On the local level, Akosombo has meant access to electricity for people in urban and industrial areas across southern Ghana. For others, Akosombo inflicted tremendous social and environmental costs. The dam altered the ecology of the Lower Volta, displaced 80,000 people in the Volta Basin, and affected the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians. In A Dam for Africa, Stephan Miescher explores four intersecting narratives: Ghanaian debates and aspirations about modernization in the context of decolonization and Cold War; international efforts of the US aluminum industry to benefit from Akosombo through cheap electricity for their VALCO smelter; local stories of upheaval and devastation in resettlement towns; and a nation-wide quest toward electrification and energy justice during times of economic crises, droughts, and climate change.