Microgrid design for disadvantaged people living in remote areas as tool in speeding up electricity access in Rwanda

Mudaheranwa, Emmanuel, Ntagwirumugara, Etienne, Masengo, Gilbert and Cipcigan, Liana ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5015-3334 2023. Microgrid design for disadvantaged people living in remote areas as tool in speeding up electricity access in Rwanda. Energy Strategy Reviews 46 , 101054. 10.1016/j.esr.2023.101054

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Abstract

Across many developing nations, such as Rwanda, the absence of electricity has significantly reduced the economic impact of rural communities. A common practice in some locations is to process farm products using locally fabricated machines, which diminishes the quality and quantity of production while simultaneously increasing the danger of illness. Recent studies suggest that hybrid power systems, such as those based on renewable energy sources, could support the development of a climate change adaption and low-emission economy in a post-pandemic future. According to this study, the current electrification rate and the variables that restrict electricity access speed are investigated, and some solutions to overcome these issues are proposed. According to the findings of this study, the connection of rural areas is delayed by the presence of remote and low-density villages, because the access to the utility transmission lines is both expensive and complex. For this reason, the study proposes a novel microgrid design where it suggests an installed solar PV mobile mini-grid that can provide a group of households with energy, so enabling them to obtain economical and environmentally friendly energy. Results have proven that the proposed model is an adjustable and expandable generation and distributed storage. To a greater extent, the installation of a single device at a residence can even result in the establishment of an expandable DC microgrid, which then can develop in a cost-efficient manner when additional neighbors are joined to the grid. Eventually, the microgrid will be able to alter the way in which processing equipment is utilized. The solution is also expected to contribute to the advancement of clean technology in the pursuit of universal electrification.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Engineering
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	2211-467X
Funders:	EPSRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	17 January 2023
Date of Acceptance:	2 January 2023
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 22:38
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/155964

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