This paper presents a review of the energy situation in Malawi and discusses renewable energy options that can strengthen Malawi's energy supply and energy security. The paper reviews the availability of renewable energy resources namely solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal in Malawi; and explores the potential of upscaling and broadening the applications of the existing renewable energy technologies. The paper also analyses challenges facing Malawi's energy sector, and presents a framework for sustainable delivery of renewable energy systems based on political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors (PESTLE). About 89 percent of the Malawi's energy is sourced from traditional biomass mainly fuel wood which has led to fuel wood demand exceeding sustainable wood supply. Only 8 percent of the population in Malawi have access to electricity; however installed capacity of electricity generation is lower than demand which leads to load shedding by the supplier and consequently electricity supply in Malawi is unreliable. Certainly, solar, nontraditional biomass (crop residues and forest residues not burnt on three stone fireplaces, and biogas) and hydro can contribute significantly to Malawi's inadequate and unreliable energy supply. There is also potential for wind and geothermal in the country but further resource mapping is required to comprehensively determine these resources. Although the Malawi Energy Policy lays out steps towards improving the energy supply in the country, unreliable financing mechanisms for large scale energy projects, shortage of trained human resource, lack of coordination among local institutions, unclear regulation enforcement and sometimes political governance impede sustainable delivery of energy projects in Malawi.

No abstract

No abstract

This paper discusses the impact of COVID-19’s vulnerability context on Malawi’s Energy Sector and outlines mechanisms for enhancing Malawi’s energy-sector resilience based on experiences from a range of stakeholders. The investigation was conducted online by inviting purposively selected stakeholders to create presentations responding to thematic questions. The final sample had 19 stakeholders with representation from policy-makers, regulatory bodies, national grid supply players, off-grid players, development agencies, bankers, professional bodies, civil society, and women’s rights bodies. The presentations from the stakeholders highlighted how COVID-19 affects the operation costs of energy systems and implementation of energy systems projects in areas that require stimulus packages to contain energy system delivery costs and prevent disruption of essential services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These services include stakeholder responses to COVID-19 in the energy sector, the role of digital payments particularly when purchasing electricity units, and the state of third-party service providers such as banks and mobile network operators to enhance preparedness and continuity of operations for the energy sector. Based on the findings in these thematic areas and an application of systems thinking in the analysis, the paper finally makes recommendations on how Malawi and similar low-income countries can strategise to enhance energy systems resilience.

This study aimed at designing, prototyping and testing the effectiveness of a solar disinfection system for improved rural household water treatment. The system was constructed using local materials. The effectiveness and efficiency of the system to kill microorganisms were determined by using contaminated raw water samples collected from rural areas. The prototype raised the bottle water temperature from 24.3 to 66 °C. After 3 hours of exposure to intense sunlight, the water samples registered no total and faecal coliform counts in line with allowable drinking water limits by Malawi Standards and the World Health Organization. When loaded with 12 L of the contaminated water, the system scored a 10.2 % efficiency. The prototype reached disinfecting temperature faster (80 minutes) under intense sunlight conditions and worked effectively well with water of low turbidity levels. The prototype was cost-effective and easy to use, hence to be promoted for improved rural household water treatment.