What are the opportunities for energy access in Liberia?

Additionally, adopting off-grid and mini-grid solutions presents another opportunity for energy access in Liberia . Given the challenges of extending the central grid to remote areas, off-grid and mini-grid systems offer cost-effective alternatives. Some of the energy sources utilized in Liberia are summarized in Table 3. Table 3.

What energy sources does Liberia use?

Liberia also utilizes other energy sources on a smaller scale. These include small-scale renewable energy systems such as solar and biomass. However, the contribution of these sources to the overall energy mix in Liberia is limited. Abundant and clean energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

How will Liberia achieve universal access to electricity by 2030?

The country will need to invest heavily in energy infrastructure to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030 . The primary energy sources in Liberia are traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, which account for more than 80 % of the country's total energy consumption [5, 12, 13].

How can Liberia improve energy reliability?

As exemplified by Liberia's import initiatives, regional energy cooperation should be considered to bolster energy reliability. Engineers are advised to optimize energy mixes, incorporating wind, biomass, and solar energy into existing grids, and developing mini-grid initiatives for rural areas to address energy access challenges.

What are the challenges to energy access in Liberia?

The primary challenge to energy access in Liberia is the limited and underdeveloped energy infrastructure. The lack of adequate power generation, transmission, and distribution systems contributes to this low access rate. The electrification rate is significantly lower in rural areas, where most of the population resides .

What fuels are used for thermal power generation in Liberia?

These plants utilize heavy fuel oil (HFO), diesel, or other liquid fuels as their primary energy source to produce electricity. The reliance on imported fuels for thermal power generation poses several challenges for Liberia [6, 17]. There is a significant cost associated with importing these fuels.