Is decentralised solar power a cost-effective way to power Madagascar?

A costly expansion of the national electricity grid is a long way off and not the most cost-effective way either. Madagascar is one of the sunniest countries in the world with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, so decentralised solar power supply to rural areas is not only easier but also cheaper.

Is heat a nightmare in Madagascar?

It is a nightmare inside,” said Tsiry. In Madagascar, less than half of the population has access to electricity and clean water, making common coping strategies in extreme heat inaccessible to a large part of the population. Elevated temperatures in Madagascar have lead to a decline in labor productivity.

Are heat peaks a real thing in Madagascar?

“I have the feeling that the sun is pounding on my head,” Tsiry confided from Antsirabe. Heat peaks are very rarely recorded in Africa, which makes it difficult to accurately study their impact in Madagascar, adds the WWA.

Is Madagascar ready for a heat wave?

“I am lucky to work in a relatively large office where air circulates but I cannot begin to imagine how people in small spaces are coping,” Tsiry said. According to the report, Madagascar is ill-equipped to face heat waves, “there are no heat action plans, early actions protocols, or comprehensive early warning systems”.

Does Madagascar have a power supply at night?

Lithium-ion batteries also provide power at night. Madagascar is the largest island state in Africa and the fourth largest island in the world. With the equivalent of 440 US dollars a year 1, the annual gross national income per capita is far below the average of the other African states south of the Sahara.

How can Madagascar adapt to a warming world?

The scientists recommend investments in extreme heat forecasting, warning, and response capabilities. “They are the most urgent requirements for Madagascar to better adapt to a warming world.”