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Abstract Electric cooking (or e-cooking) based on renewable sources and highly-efficient cooking devices could represent a sustainable and reliable option to achieve the universal access to clean cooking facilities by 2030. Still, the techno-economic feasibility of e-cooking has never been evaluated through (i) a high-resolution assessment of the electric and cooking load profiles, coupled with (ii) a least-cost energy system optimisation for the related electricity supply. Hence, the present study aims at accurately investigating the techno-economic potential of a fully-renewable solar micro-grid, ensuring an integrated access to electricity and clean cooking, based on two representative case studies in Tanzania, namely: (i) a residential case study, and (ii) a community-service case study. Bottom-up stochastic load profiles are generated for the two contexts by expanding the existing LoadProGen model with a novel complementary algorithm for the computation of high-resolution cooking loads. The cost-optimised results prove the cost-competitiveness of e-cooking, especially for the community-service case, where it would require only an additional 17% capital investment due to the pre-existence of other energy-intensive activities. Moreover, the range of Levelised Cost for Cooking a Meal (LCCM) obtained for e-cooking considering the different scenarios lies within 0.16 ÷ 0.70 USD/meal, a range that is comparable with that of all other cooking options – including firewood –, and even more cost-competitive than LPG. Highlights • We propose a novel high-resolution model for electric cooking load profiles. • We couple electric cooking profiles with PV-based micro-grid optimisation. • We prove that micro-grid-based e-cooking is cost-competitive with other options. • Effect on system sizing is limited if other energy-intensive appliances are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Less than 15% of rural areas of Cameroon have access to grid electricity. Only 53% of the population has access to grid electricity. Notwithstanding, Cameroon has a huge hydropower potential which could be harnessed. Mini grids, powered by pico and micro hydropower plants, are a relatively new rural electrification strategy in Cameroon. Several of such mini grids have been realized in the mountain regions of the country. Some of these systems have been more successful than others. This paper aims to share the experiences of community-based pico and micro hydropower schemes for rural electrification in Cameroon. The paper provides insight to the challenges that three of such mini grid systems powered by pico and micro hydropower plants had encountered and it attempts to identify issues related to their performances. The study was based on personal experience, field visits, participant observations, interviews and focus group discussions with key members of the beneficiary communities and documentations from the local NGO which implemented the schemes. Key findings of this study relate to the description of the main aspects about: planning of a robust system design, organizational aspects, like social cohesion at all levels of scheme management, community leadership and ownership of the system and involvement of the beneficiaries at all stages of the project cycle. These aspects were particularly addressed within the context of rural communities in Cameroon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]