Barriers towards energy digitization: An african perspective

Delivery of energy in a controlled, smart manner from points of generation and distribution to active end-users are driven by strong technical, socio-economic, regulatory and policy issues. These potential barriers affect the integration and implementation of the energy flow process, design, construction, operation, use, and maintenance. These barriers can trigger system vulnerabilities impacting system integrity, and confidentiality; influence the cost of storage technologies; affect data management controls and systems, communication standards and protocols; disrupt power flow; increase capital investments; result in power theft; distort engagement of stakeholders and cause privacy violations and incoherent regulation and policy structures. Digitizing African energy market not only assures efficiency, reliability, resiliency, availability, and stability of its power system but further encourages active participation in the demand response programs that promote the interaction and responsiveness of stakeholders. This paper presents the challenges towards the implementation of energy digitization in Africa. It further suggests methods to overcome these bottlenecks and provide optimal power generation, distribution and use. In addition, the article enlists strategies to improve the interaction of the stakeholders; and indicates a multidisciplinary approach to accelerate the implementation of digitization of the energy market for value chain integration.