The article presents a survey on the development of Smart Grids in the world. Its purpose is to present an overview of the possibilities and initial challenges to be overcome for its implementation in Mozambique. For the development of this article, a bibliographical survey of the world panorama of technology was made. As a result of this literary survey, it was understood that the concept of smart grids became more clear from 2005 and is developing. Some countries, mainly developed, have already joined the technology and they are with the pilot projects and realized. The motivations for its implementation vary from country to country. Increasing profits in the electricity sector, reducing energy technical losses, improving the environment and enhancing renewable energy are the main motivations. This technology brings benefits associated with technological innovation, new product development and new market opportunities. At the moment, it’s understood that, Mozambique is not in time to implement this technology effectively. Not only because many countries are still with pilot projects, but also, the financial costs for their implementationarehigh. However, although there are presumed difficulties for its implementation, it’s considered convenient to start with the discussions about smart grids in higher education and research institutions, fund mobilization and implementation of testing laboratories. Additionally, it is important to study the possibility of phased implementation of this technology in new condominiums or residential neighborhoods and to gain experience in countries that have already started to implement it.

The excessive use of incandescent lamps is one of the main factors in the low energy efficiency of the residential sector in Mozambique. To remedy this situation, some countries are banning the import and sale of incandescent lamps in their markets. The article reviews the status of implementation of these actions worldwide and the challenges for Mozambique. The data is drawn from existing literature on the topic under discussion and selected according to purpose. The literature indicates that Mozambique has a program to promote energy efficient incandescent lamps, but the level of its implementation is still very low. Regarding the implementation of the policy to ban incandescent lamps, it was found that the barriers are universal, namely the lack of funding to support the policy actions, the high price of marketing energy efficient lamps, the deficit and doubtful quality of efficient lamps and the little knowledge of consumers and decision makers about the advantages of using energy efficient lamps. However, these data lead us to conclude that it is premature to think about the implementation of the policy to ban the import and sale of incandescent lamps in Mozambique, as there are actions that should be prioritized at this time, namely, the promotion of low consumption lamps, the dissemination of measures for the rational use of electricity in buildings, consumer awareness, the adoption of labels on household appliances and the drafting of specific legislation.

The level of rational use of electricity consumption by households in Mozambique is very low. This paper assesses whether, with the implementation of education and awareness actions through the door-to-door method, is possible to change the consumption habits and rationalize residential electricity consumption in Maputo city, Mozambique. The data was collected through questionnaires, observations, and interviews related to the habits of electricity consumption, the use of electrical equipment, and consumption of household appliances. This was followed by awareness creation on the use of electricity. The results show that after the campaign, the level of knowledge of the measures of rational use of electricity by consumers was increased by 55.3%, the level of adoption of the measures learned was increased by 30.5% and the monthly household consumption was decreased by 16.8%. Household consumption depends on the electrical equipment, and replacement of at least one 60W incandescent lamp in each residence with a 15W fluorescent lamp could bring a significant reduction in energy consumption. For example, the annual consumption of each family can be reduced by 94KWh and 23GWh in the entire City. The low level of rational use of electricity in Maputo city is due to lack of knowledge of the measures and little adoption of the known measures, use of inefficient equipment, low availability of the efficient equipment in the local markets, high cost of efficient technologies, and houses that offer few opportunities for rationing. Rationing; Electricity consumers; Habits; Awareness; Maputo; Mozambique.

Com a crescente utilização de equipamentos elétricos nas residências, em parte resultante do aumento exponencial do número e da melhoria das condições de vida da população, tornou-se necessário analisar a demanda de eletricidade em residências. E neste artigo é estudado o quadro teórico da demanda de eletricidade no setor residencial da Cidade de Maputo. Para isso, é analisado o consumo de equipamentos elétricos das 577 residências, 469 suburbanas e 108 urbanas, e pela utilização das elasticidades equipamento x consumo é projetado o consumo futuro de eletricidade nestas residências. Os resultados indicam que os equipamentos mais elásticos nas residências são as lâmpadas incandescentes, e um aumento de 12% na penetração de lâmpadas incandescentes de 60W nas famílias suburbanas, o consumo anual por família pode aumentar em 80KWh e 18GWh em todas residências suburbanas. E um aumento de 1% de lâmpadas fluorescentes nas residências urbanas pode fazer com que o consumo anual por família aumente em 1,9KWh.