A comparison of DC- versus AC-based minigrids for cost-effective electrification of rural developing communities

Opiyo, Nicholas

doi:10.1016/j.egyr.2019.04.001

Cited by 30 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…These small systems, rated between 8 and 60 Wp are tailored to match basic power needs and are modifiable with changing loads or changing household incomes, allowing individuals to temporally climb the energy ladder as shown in Fig. 1 [9]. Furthermore, nearby households with SHS can network their systems into small communal microgrids or regional grids, with centralized or decentralized storage, leading to access to grid-level power and thus to improved reliability and availability of power, to improved system security, and to improved overall system efficiency [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this work we investigate how access to basic electricity stimulates demand for more power; we look at how households temporally modify their basic SHS with changing incomes and demands, to determine how introduction to basic electricity stimulates growth in a household's power demands. We then investigate how cumulatively increasing [9] power demands of a given community justify investments in extensions of utility grid transmission and distribution networks to that area, i.e., how initial installations of basic SHS by households within a given rural developing community eventually lead to grid electrification of the said community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How solar home systems temporally stimulate increasing power demands in rural households of Sub-Saharan Africa

Opiyo

2020

Energy Transit

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Small solar home systems (SHS) have emerged as potential alternatives to grid electrifications, enabling households to make modest investments into their power systems, and to modify those systems according to their changing economic circumstances and power demands. Study shows that introduction to basic electricity access temporally stimulates increasing power demands in rural households, leading to eventual installations of larger systems that can power more electric appliances. Specifically, study shows that once households get access to basic electricity, they get to realise the socioeconomic benefits of it and start to desire more appliances, with TV being the most desired appliance, followed by stereo systems, small fridges, and small cooling fans. These desires are realised temporally with increasing household incomes, leading to increasing loads, and thus to the modifications of the originally installed small SHS, to meet those increasing load demands; the desire for luxurious appliances leads to activities that contribute to increased household incomes, and thus to the modifications of the initial SHS. Acquisitions of luxury appliances lead to improvements in quality of life and to improved esteem visibility and social status within the local communities. Potentially, increasing load demands within a given community could lead to extensions of the national utility grid to those areas, as total loads justify such investments. SHS therefore potentially act as grid electrification stimulators, leading to eventual grid electrification of a given community.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How solar home systems temporally stimulate increasing power demands in rural households of Sub-Saharan Africa

Opiyo

2020

Energy Transit

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“…O, 2019, carried out a comparative study of DCversus AC-based microgrids. The study highlights the modularity of microgeneration systems as a great characteristic advantage in rural setup(microgrids) as it supports ease of modification in response to varying energy demands (Opiyo 2019a). SPV systems located on different houses can be integrated together through a web-like network microgrid.…”

Section: Overview Of Solar Photovoltaics Microgrids Operation Microgridmentioning

confidence: 91%

Review of Operation and Maintenance Methodologies for Solar Photovoltaic Microgrids

2021

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Global concerns and growth in electricity demand, especially for rural and remote settlements, has forced governments, scientists, engineers, and researchers to look for alternative solutions in the form of renewable energy sources. High global growth in solar energy technology applications has added more weight in operations and maintenance (O&M) of solar-photovoltaic (SPV) systems. SPV reliability and optimized system performance are key to ensuring success and continual adaptation of SPV technology. O&M plays a central role in ensuring sustainability and long-term availability throughout the operational lifetime of the elements of SPV systems whilst boosting confidence of ultimate consumers in solar energy. While appreciating that SPV installations intrinsically require minimal maintenance actions, the objective of this manuscript is hence to reaffirm the significance of O&M scheduling in SPV systems by reviewing the O&M approaches in SPV microgrid systems. Further discussions focus on the various maintenance strategies employed in the field with special emphasis on corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance strategies. Because of the variation in the design and development procedures of SPV systems, there is lack of clear steps followed in the development of an O&M program for SPV systems and the evaluation of its performance. This manuscript serves to address this through a model for developing an O&M program and portrays the key elements for its success, including a management and execution approach for improved risk-return balance and savings from the O&M expenditure. Eventually, the three models of executing an O&M program (i.e., in-house O&M team, third party contract, or installation company) are analyzed.

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“…According to a United Nations (UN) report in 2017 (The Sustainable Development Goals report 2016), nearly 43% of the world's population utilises lagging energy technologies. In India, tens of millions of households have <12 h of electricity per day [8]; globally,~1.1 billion people have no access to electricity whatsoever [9]. This situation is most critical in the Sahara region, where residents obtain energy by burning biomass [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors of Energy Poverty: Evidence from Tibet, China

Zang

Chandio

2021

Sustainability

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Energy poverty due to rising energy demand is a matter of global concern. Therefore, examination of the causes of energy poverty and development of effective solutions are urgent concerns. Using survey data on livelihood development in Tibetan farming and pastoral areas in 2019, this study applied logistic and ordinary least squares models to empirically investigate the factors that influence energy poverty in Tibet. We found that energy poverty is (1) unrelated to age, gender, education, marital status, political and village cadre experience, planting, or expenditures related to religious activities; (2) negatively correlated with migrant work, village status, household income, and traffic conditions; (3) positively correlated with employment, area, and breeding; and (4) both positively and negatively affected by family residence altitude. The results offer new insights and empirical evidence for the identification and elimination of energy poverty, improving livelihoods, and promoting rural revitalisation in Tibet.

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A comparison of DC- versus AC-based minigrids for cost-effective electrification of rural developing communities

Cited by 30 publications

References 7 publications

How solar home systems temporally stimulate increasing power demands in rural households of Sub-Saharan Africa

How solar home systems temporally stimulate increasing power demands in rural households of Sub-Saharan Africa

Review of Operation and Maintenance Methodologies for Solar Photovoltaic Microgrids

Factors of Energy Poverty: Evidence from Tibet, China

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