Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) commonly known as Drones, are a relatively new technology in Africa, but they are needed and welcomed as evidenced by the African drone Forum, held in February 2020 in Rwanda.

Even before this pandemic took hold worldwide, drones were being used in a number of African countries such as Rwanda, to send blood and medical samples back and forth from hospitals in rural areas in Rwanda not easily accessible by road. Since the beginning of this pandemic, drones from Charis UAV, have been used by Rwanda’s police to make announcements and to monitor the public.

Drones have so many other uses and can be a useful tool during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that life in some normal form continues and that full use is made of the resources available to try and stay economically viable.

Other ways in which drones can be especially important in Africa:

1. Medical and Health Industry

I.. Supplying medical samples – The drones can be used to supply medical samples because they are a faster and safer way, to transport samples during this pandemic and reduce the risk of transmitting any infections, “Drones cannot get infected”.

II. They can also be used to provide emergency first aid.

III.. The drones can be used to also deliver medical supplies and medicines especially in rural areas.

2. Drones in the Agriculture Industry

Drones can be used to:

I. Replace a percentage of labor that is not available.

II. Measure crop health using maps created by drones.

III.. Count the number of plants which can help in the decision making by farmers.

IV. Use aerial imagery to assess crop damage and use the information to try and mitigate loss.

V. Look at irrigation patterns to see where irrigation and water is most needed and use the drones to irrigate the farm.

VI. Using drones to collect data and make farms sustainable.

3. Drones can be used during natural and/or man-made disasters - Drones can be used with infrared sensors, to detect humans by their heat signature during search and rescue.

4. Construction Industry

Drones can be a useful tool in the construction industry in Africa:

I. Track and communicate progress on a site.

II. Track and manage materials and assets.

III. Reduce theft, by providing security when a site is closed.

IV. Increase safety by using drones to view sites before personnel is let on a site.

V. Provide information for improving any design changes.

5. Real Estate Industry

I. Drones can be used to take pictures and videos of undeveloped land scheduled for development to get an aerial view of the land.

II. They can also be used for insurance inspections, appraisals and building management.

There are many more industries that could use drones to create efficiencies in Africa. These uses would need to be explored and researched. For instance, in the film industry in Nigeria, affectionally known as Nollywood, drones could be used to film certain scenes and sceneries in the movies. The goal of using drones is to make the most of a viable form of technology in Africa and allows Africa to leapfrog over some technologies to create efficiencies and opportunities not yet realized especially in today’s world, where data and information are the most important currency.

Resources

1. African Drone Forum

2. African Union

3. CDC

4. COVID-19 response in Rwanda: Use of Drones in Community awareness

5. World Bank

Solar Power – Africa’s long-term Energy solution

Energy Access in Africa

Over one billion people worldwide lack access to electricity. and In Sub Sahara Africa (SSA), over 620 million people, and approximately 60% of the businesses, do not have access to reliable power. Any real development and progress in Africa will only be attained with sustainable access to electricity.

Overview of the Solar Energy Industry in Africa

Africa is a viable location for solar power installation and usage, especially with the price of solar power technology and equipment getting cheaper.

The solar power industry is a viable option for all African countries based on several factors:

1. Africa has an abundance of sunshine to provide a viable resource for solar power.

2. Most countries in Africa have an average of 12 hours of daylight. Countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa had over 12 hours of daylight in 2016, according to USNO - Africa Universal Time.

3. The price for solar power infrastructure has gone down considerably since its early days.

4. Solar power presents an opportunity for small and mid-sized organizations as well as some non-profit organizations to provide the infrastructure and service to customers. This is unlike the traditional forms of power energy, which require significant investment and large organizations.

The one question to ask is why it has taken some of the governments of Africa, so long to jump on the Solar Power energy bandwagon? And why, even with the move forward, there are still some African countries that have not fully adopted and implemented a solar power program? One would think that with the natural resource for solar power in such abundance on the African continent, African countries would be making full use of this form of alternative energy

On the other hand, it may be better that they have not made the leap till now. Like the communications field in Africa, which leapfrogged over communications infrastructure and adopted and embraced mobile communications at the time the price was lower and accessibility greater, this may be the right time for Africa to adopt and embrace this alternative energy which can now be made available to a wide audience.

Past and current barriers and problems for establishing Solar Power in Africa

1. Until recently, investment in solar power infrastructure, materials and installation was expensive. However, with the introduction of new technology, cheaper resources and equipment, solar power is becoming more accessible and cheaper. New programs are being initiated that may make alternative energy use even cheaper for the poorer population of the continent.

2. The availability of petroleum and coal, traditional sources, in some countries has meant that the installation, support and use of solar power and establishing solar power infrastructure has not been a priority in the past.

3. With more money flowing in from petroleum and other current energy resources, those governments and the energy industry itself did not feel the need to pursue less expensive resources. The drop-in petroleum prices and loss of revenue is helping to change that thinking.

4. Another problem is that both the government and citizens of the African countries, though open to adopting new technology, have been very slow about adopting changes to their electrical supply. They have gotten used to the old ways in which electricity has been delivered with frequent cuts in power and an unreliable resource in some of these African countries.

5. The absence of a coordinated regulatory and legal framework, in some of the African countries, is an ongoing barrier.

References

Renewable energy in Africa
Green Mini Grid Country Support Programmes - Expression of Interest- African Development Bank - Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa