African countries have an evident potential for solar energy. Knowing what amount of solar radiation reaches the earth's surface is of particular interest for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. It can be represented by the average annual potential energy production (or yield): the total amount of electricity (kWh) produced in one year by a 1 kWp PV system at optimal angle, expressed in kWh/kWp.

The hydropower installed capacity indicates the amount of energy a hydropower plant can produce in its turbines. In 2016, hydropower accounted for 54% of the installed capacity in Eastern Africa, 58% in Central Africa and 30% in Western Africa with fourteen countries having a hydropower share above 50% and eight countries above 70%. These highly hydropower-dependent countries are particularly prone to electricity cuts due to the lack of water caused by severe droughts. This map shows the location and installed capacities of hydropower plants above 5MW installed capacity in Africa for year 2016, representing 95% of the total hydropower installed capacity in Africa.

Modern energy services are crucial to human well-being and to a country’s economic development; and yet 1.2 billion people are without access to electricity. It is recognized that the central grid is unlikely to reach many remote areas in the near future: many of these communities will have low electricity consumption, making the costs of extending the grid unaffordable. Given the evident potential of solar energy for African countries, using stand-alone and mini-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems could be an alternative approach to meet the objective of universal electrification.

This dataset presents the ratio between the optimized battery size (kWh) and PV array size (kWp) for PV mini-grids using Li-ion batteries to store electricity (instead of traditional lead-acid batteries). It includes layers modeling two distinct usage behaviors:

• Low energy consumption patterns: where the majority of energy is used during the night-time.
• High energy consumption patterns: where the majority of energy is used during the day-time.

A higher ratio means that the battery size needed to satisfy the same electricity demand produced by the PV system is larger. Used in combination with other sources, these data can help governments, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to investigate the suitability of PV mini-grids for the electrification of regions where access to electricity is lacking.

Many African countries, especially in the Sub-Saharan region highly depend on hydropower which is one of the energy sources that are most affected by droughts. At the same time hydropower has a huge impact on water consumption (mainly through evaporation from reservoir surfaces) in comparison with other fuel types despite having higher densities of plants and installed capacities. Hydropower accounts for 15% of Africa’s energy production. This map shows the energy production (GWh) of hydropower plants with an installed capacity above 5MW, aggregated for each hydropower-generating country in Africa for year 2016.

Higher energy demands in Africa has led to a wide expansion of the number of hydropower sites, mainly between the 1960s and 1980s. The construction of dams causes impoundments of rivers and reservoirs in the regions of dam influence, with higher evaporation and water temperatures due to increased water surfaces. This map shows the he surface area (sqkm) of African reservoirs subject to hydropower production for the year 2016. It includes reservoirs of associated hydropower plants with installed capacities above 5MW. Apart from this, only reservoirs with a detected dam-caused impoundment of water surface are considered.

Increasing water scarcity and water quality issues are serious constraints, especially for Northern Africa. A comprehensive assessment of spatial and temporal precipitation frequency is the initial step for defining public policies relating to water resources management and environmental monitoring. In the agricultural sector, a detailed knowledge of precipitation patterns is necessary to identify the most appropriate crop varieties for the region and to effectively manage climate related uncertainties. Precipitation frequency is also a central source of information for hazard mitigation and management. This layer represents the average variability of precipitation (L-CV) around the annual mean value for the period 1981-2017. The larger the L-CV, the more variable the annual precipitation is from year to year.

Increasing water scarcity and water quality issues are serious constraints, especially for Northern Africa. A comprehensive assessment of spatial and temporal precipitation frequency is the initial step for defining public policies relating to water resources management and environmental monitoring. In the agricultural sector, a detailed knowledge of precipitation patterns is necessary to identify the most appropriate crop varieties for the region and to effectively manage climate related uncertainties. Precipitation frequency is also a central source of information for hazard mitigation and management. This layer shows the average annual precipitation (mm/year) for the period 1981-2017 across the continent.

Modern energy services are crucial to human well-being and to a country’s economic development. Yet 1.2 billion people worldwide live without access to electricity. It is recognized that the central grid is unlikely to reach many remote areas in the near future: many of these communities will have low electricity consumption, making the costs of extending the grid unaffordable. Given the evident potential of solar energy for African countries, using stand-alone and mini-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems could be an alternative approach to meet the objective of universal electrification. This layer compares the costs of electricity produced by solar photovoltaic and diesel systems, the two prevailing off-grid options for rural electrification in Africa. The map shows the difference between solar- and diesel-based electricity production cost (cents USD/kWh) at one square-kilometre resolution. PV minigrid represent the least-cost electrification option in the orange-to-yellow areas, whereas cheaper diesel is depicted in purple. The higher the contrast, the larger the cost difference.

This dataset provides a continent-wide, raster-based spatial representation of Earth's surface heat flow across the African tectonic plate for the year 2013, modeled under a historical baseline scenario. The data quantifies the amount of thermal energy moving from the Earth's interior to its surface, with values explicitly expressed in watts per square meter (W/m²). This resource is critical for identifying geothermal potential, understanding tectonic anomalies, and supporting broader geoscientific and energy research.

This layer is part of the Geothermal Atlas for Africa developed within the LEAP-RE project

• Cooling Absorption System;
• Refrigeration Absorption System;
• Binary ORC Power Plant;
• Flash Power Plant;
• Heat for Direct Use;
• Heat for High Temperature Heat Pump;

• base case scenario;
• upside scenario, modelling a better fluid flow;
• up up side, modelling both better fluid flow and higher underground temperatures.

• Cooling Absorption System;
• Refrigeration Absorption System;

• base case scenario;
• upside scenario, modelling a better fluid flow;
• up up side, modelling both better fluid flow and higher underground temperatures.

• Binary ORC Power Plant;
• Flash Power Plant;

• base case scenario;
• upside scenario, modelling a better fluid flow;
• up up side, modelling both better fluid flow and higher underground temperatures.

• Direct Use;
• High Temperature Heat Pump;

• base case scenario;
• upside scenario, modelling a better fluid flow;
• up up side, modelling both better fluid flow and higher underground temperatures.

This dataset provides the P50 projections for a geothermal system utilizing a Chiller unit.

Chiller refers to an absorption chiller or heat pump integrated into the geothermal system. It is used to provide cooling (by utilizing the geothermal heat) or to extract additional heat from the return fluid, thereby increasing the system's overall thermal harvest.

P50 is a statistical term used in risk analysis and forecasting. P50 represents the median scenario, meaning there is a 50% probability that the actual outcome will be higher than this value and a 50% probability it will be lower. It serves as the baseline "best estimate."

• Coefficient of Performance (COP) [-]: A measure of efficiency, defined as the ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to the work (energy) required to operate the Chiller. Higher values indicate greater efficiency.

• Doublet Net Production [MW]: The actual useful power output (Megawatts) generated by the "doublet" (one production well + one injection well), subtracting any energy used by pumps or auxiliary equipment.

• Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) [US$ct/kWh]: The average revenue per unit of energy needed to recover the cost of building and operating the plant over its entire life cycle. It essentially represents the break-even price.

• Net Present Value (NPV) [million US$]: The current financial value of all future cash flows the project will generate, minus the initial investment costs. A positive NPV generally indicates a profitable project.

• Optimized Depth of the Aquifer [m]: The calculated ideal drilling depth (meters) to reach the geothermal reservoir that balances drilling costs with temperature/flow benefits.

• Pressure needed to drive pumps [Bar]: The total pressure difference required to drive the thermal loop through the reservoir and wellbore.

• Production Flow Rate [m³/h]: The volume of geothermal fluid extracted from the reservoir per hour (cubic meters per hour).

• Temperature at Reservoir [°C]: The natural temperature (Celsius) of the geothermal fluid within the subsurface rock formation before it is brought to the surface.

• Transmissivity [Dm]: A measure of how easily fluid flows through the porous aquifer. It is the product of hydraulic conductivity and aquifer thickness (often measured in Darcy-meters). High transmissivity means easier extraction.

• Well Distance [m]: The physical distance (meters) between the production well (extraction) and the injection well (return). Proper spacing prevents "short-circuiting," where cool injected water lowers the temperature of the production well too quickly.

This dataset provides the P50 projections for a Direct Heat with Heat Pump geothermal system.

Direct Heat with Heat Pump refers to a scenario where a geothermal system is integrated with an industrial heat pump to upgrade low-grade heat. This allows for production from geothermal temperatures as low as 40°C, which are then heated by the pump to a delivery temperature of 80°C. The reinjection temperature is set to the production temperature minus 20°C, with a absolute minimum of 15°C.

P50 is a statistical term used in risk analysis and forecasting. P50 represents the median scenario, meaning there is a 50% probability that the actual outcome will be higher than this value and a 50% probability it will be lower. It serves as the baseline ""best estimate.""

• Coefficient of Performance (COP) [-]: A measure of efficiency, defined as the ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to the work (energy) required to operate the Chiller. Higher values indicate greater efficiency.

• Doublet Net Production [MW]: The actual useful power output (Megawatts) generated by the ""doublet"" (one production well + one injection well), subtracting any energy used by pumps or auxiliary equipment.

• Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) [US$ct/kWh]: The average revenue per unit of energy needed to recover the cost of building and operating the plant over its entire life cycle. It essentially represents the break-even price.

• Net Present Value (NPV) [million US$]: The current financial value of all future cash flows the project will generate, minus the initial investment costs. A positive NPV generally indicates a profitable project.

• Optimized Depth of the Aquifer [m]: The calculated ideal drilling depth (meters) to reach the geothermal reservoir that balances drilling costs with temperature/flow benefits.

• Pressure needed to drive pumps [Bar]: The total pressure difference required to drive the thermal loop through the reservoir and wellbore.

• Production Flow Rate [m³/h]: The volume of geothermal fluid extracted from the reservoir per hour (cubic meters per hour).

• Temperature at Reservoir [°C]: The natural temperature (Celsius) of the geothermal fluid within the subsurface rock formation before it is brought to the surface.

• Transmissivity [Dm]: A measure of how easily fluid flows through the porous aquifer. It is the product of hydraulic conductivity and aquifer thickness (often measured in Darcy-meters). High transmissivity means easier extraction.

• Well Distance [m]: The physical distance (meters) between the production well (extraction) and the injection well (return). Proper spacing prevents ""short-circuiting,"" where cool injected water lowers the temperature of the production well too quickly.

This dataset provides the P50 projections for a Direct Heat geothermal system.

Direct Heat refers to the use of geothermal energy for applications such as space heating, industrial processes, or agriculture. In the utilized model, it is assumed a minimum production temperature of at least 60°C and a reinjection temperature of 40°C.

P50 is a statistical term used in risk analysis and forecasting. P50 represents the median scenario, meaning there is a 50% probability that the actual outcome will be higher than this value and a 50% probability it will be lower. It serves as the baseline "best estimate."

• Coefficient of Performance (COP) [-]: A measure of efficiency, defined as the ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to the work (energy) required to operate the Chiller. Higher values indicate greater efficiency.

• Doublet Net Production [MW]: The actual useful power output (Megawatts) generated by the ""doublet"" (one production well + one injection well), subtracting any energy used by pumps or auxiliary equipment.

• Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) [US$ct/kWh]: The average revenue per unit of energy needed to recover the cost of building and operating the plant over its entire life cycle. It essentially represents the break-even price.

• Net Present Value (NPV) [million US$]: The current financial value of all future cash flows the project will generate, minus the initial investment costs. A positive NPV generally indicates a profitable project.

• Optimized Depth of the Aquifer [m]: The calculated ideal drilling depth (meters) to reach the geothermal reservoir that balances drilling costs with temperature/flow benefits.

• Pressure needed to drive pumps [Bar]: The total pressure difference required to drive the thermal loop through the reservoir and wellbore.

• Production Flow Rate [m³/h]: The volume of geothermal fluid extracted from the reservoir per hour (cubic meters per hour).

• Temperature at Reservoir [°C]: The natural temperature (Celsius) of the geothermal fluid within the subsurface rock formation before it is brought to the surface.

• Transmissivity [Dm]: A measure of how easily fluid flows through the porous aquifer. It is the product of hydraulic conductivity and aquifer thickness (often measured in Darcy-meters). High transmissivity means easier extraction.

• Well Distance [m]: The physical distance (meters) between the production well (extraction) and the injection well (return). Proper spacing prevents ""short-circuiting,"" where cool injected water lowers the temperature of the production well too quickly.

This dataset provides the P50 projections for an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) geothermal power plant.

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) refers to a binary power plant configuration where geothermal fluid (brine) is used to heat a secondary organic working fluid. This process allows for efficient electricity generation from medium-to-low temperature resources (typically 90°C to 150°C). The organic fluid vaporizes, drives a turbine, and is then condensed back into a liquid to repeat the cycle. The geothermal brine is reinjected into the reservoir after passing through the heat exchanger.

P50 is a statistical term used in risk analysis and forecasting. P50 represents the median scenario, meaning there is a 50% probability that the actual outcome will be higher than this value and a 50% probability it will be lower. It serves as the baseline ""best estimate.""

• Coefficient of Performance (COP) [-]: A measure of efficiency, defined as the ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to the work (energy) required to operate the Chiller. Higher values indicate greater efficiency.

• Doublet Net Production [MW]: The actual useful power output (Megawatts) generated by the ""doublet"" (one production well + one injection well), subtracting any energy used by pumps or auxiliary equipment.

• Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) [US$ct/kWh]: The average revenue per unit of energy needed to recover the cost of building and operating the plant over its entire life cycle. It essentially represents the break-even price.

• Net Present Value (NPV) [million US$]: The current financial value of all future cash flows the project will generate, minus the initial investment costs. A positive NPV generally indicates a profitable project.

• Optimized Depth of the Aquifer [m]: The calculated ideal drilling depth (meters) to reach the geothermal reservoir that balances drilling costs with temperature/flow benefits.

• Pressure needed to drive pumps [Bar]: The total pressure difference required to drive the thermal loop through the reservoir and wellbore.

• Production Flow Rate [m³/h]: The volume of geothermal fluid extracted from the reservoir per hour (cubic meters per hour).

• Temperature at Reservoir [°C]: The natural temperature (Celsius) of the geothermal fluid within the subsurface rock formation before it is brought to the surface.

• Transmissivity [Dm]: A measure of how easily fluid flows through the porous aquifer. It is the product of hydraulic conductivity and aquifer thickness (often measured in Darcy-meters). High transmissivity means easier extraction.

• Well Distance [m]: The physical distance (meters) between the production well (extraction) and the injection well (return). Proper spacing prevents ""short-circuiting,"" where cool injected water lowers the temperature of the production well too quickly.