OnSSET

OnSSET Applications

“OnSSET is a fundamental building block for a wide range of applications across government, industry, and academia. Several examples include:”

Governments

OnSSET has supported electrification efforts in many countries around the globe including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Tanzania, Madagascar and Benin as part of joint collaborations with the World Bank, the United Nations, and SNV.

Industry and Think Tanks

  • Global Electrification Platform – An open-access, interactive online platform providing electrification investment scenarios for multiple countries. The GEP informs key global reports such as Tracking SDG7 and Mini-grids for Half a Billion People.
  • IEA’s World Energy Outlooks – OnSSET analysis has been featured in several editions (2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022).
  • World Resources Institute (WRI) Case Study – Application of GIS in Sub-National Energy Planning in Kenya (Narok County), integrating primary data into least-cost electrification modelling using OnSSET.
  • IRENA West Africa Electrification Platform – An interactive platform providing investment scenario insights for West African countries.

Academia

OnSSET has been widely applied in academic research to advance understanding of electrification planning, least-cost pathways, and the integration of social, environmental, and financial factors. Selected publications include:

Specialist Applications

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Recommended Reading

For a broader analysis of applications and advancements in OnSSET, see the following peer-reviewed publications:

Lighting the World: the first application of an open source, spatial electrification tool (OnSSET) on Sub-Saharan Africa

Dimitrios Mentis, Mark Howells, Holger Rogner, Alexandros Korkovelos, Christopher Arderne, Eduardo Zepeda, Shahid Siyal, Costantinos Taliotis, Morgan Bazilian, Ad de Roo, Yann Tanvez, Alexandre Oudalov, Ernst Scholtz (2017)

Environmental Research Letters

In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Agenda 2030, which comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG7 — 'Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030' — forms the focus of this work. Roughly 15% of the world’s population (1.1 billion people) lack access to electricity, with 87% of those residing in rural areas. This paper presents a GIS-based approach coupled with open-access data to identify least-cost electrification strategies across Sub-Saharan Africa. Options include grid extension, mini-grid, and standalone systems. The study finds standalone technologies most suitable for low-demand areas, while higher-demand contexts shift towards mini-grid and grid-extension solutions.

The Role of Open Access Data in Geospatial Electrification Planning and the Achievement of SDG7: An OnSSET-Based Case Study for Malawi

Alexandros Korkovelos, Behnam Khavari, Anders Sahlberg, Mark Howells, Christopher Arderne (2019)

Energies

Achieving universal electricity access remains a key development challenge. The increasing availability of open-access geospatial data has greatly enhanced planning capabilities and progress tracking for SDG7. This paper introduces and tests the 2018 version of the Open Source Spatial Electrification Toolkit (OnSSET) using Malawi as a case study. Results show that off-grid PV is the least-cost option for 67.4% of Malawians at a total cost of $1.83 billion, while grid extension can connect 32.6% of the population by 2030. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that projected electricity demand strongly influences both least-cost technology mix and required investment, with total costs ranging between $1.65–7.78 billion.