Located in the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, between latitudes 10 degrees an
d 25 degrees N, Mali has a land area of 1.204 million km(2). The population
is presently estimated to be 12 million with a per capita energy consumpti
on of 227 ktoe per inhabitant per year. Wood fuel still represents 90% of t
he total energy consumed. Mali does not have any economically exploitable p
etroleum deposits., but it receives an average solar insolation of 6.3 kWh/
m(2)/day.
The review of the potential and problems of solar photovoltaic (PV) technol
ogy in Mali shows that high ambient temperatures affecting the performance
of PV systems, high cost of installed PV systems, poor after sale service a
nd passive participation of local communities in implementation of the prog
rammes remain the main constraints and challenges.
It is recommended that given Mali's meagre conventional energy resources, r
esearch should be intensified on low cost technology that minimises the eff
ect of high temperatures on the performance of PV systems. Efforts should b
e made to avoid duplication of unsuccessful experiences, improve coordinati
on of activities in this area and promote private sector participation. (C)
2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.