Kartoza together with its partners KTH Royal Institute of Technology division of Energy Systems (KTH-dES) and Smart Development Works (SNV) responded to, and were contracted by the WorldBank/ESMAP to carry out the preparation of an Indicative Least-cost Geospatial Electrification Plan to Achieve Universal Access in Benin .

In 2018, Benin had a residential electricity access rate of 42%. Reaching universal access to electricity as part of SDG7 requires a combination of grid and off-grid technologies to be deployed. Using the Open Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET) the consortium has developed 432 least-cost electrification scenarios examining different investment needs in order to reach this goal. These scenarios have all been deployed on the Benin Electrification Platform. Users of the platform have direct access to the results on a country, department and settlement level. The scenarios assess the effect of different roll- out plans, demand levels, diesel costs, grid electricity costs, PV costs and different types of restrictions or limitations on grid expansion. Results are presented for 2025 and 2030. In 2025 the electrification rate is targeted to be 80% as per the Reflection group on the State vision of the electricity sector (GRVSE).

The electrification scenarios developed highlight the importance of an integrated electrification strategy. Grid-connection will be the least-cost option for a majority of the population in Benin as a large share of the population lives in close proximity to MV lines, 11Final Report but off-grid technologies are expected to play a significant role as well. Comparison of intensification strategies with a nationwide least-cost approach provides important insights. A “buffer” approach where the centralized grid is expanded to all settlements within a specified distance from the existing network may be significantly more expensive than a purely cost-based approach. However, if the most expensive settlements (on a per- capita basis) are excluded from this buffer, an increased share of the population in Benin could receive grid access at a relatively low additional cost by 2030. Careful consideration should therefore be taken to ensure that the additional benefit of increased centralized grid access does not come at an excessive cost.