Smart Control and Real-time Operation of Photovoltaic Microgrids for Electricity Access in Africa

Description

: More than million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to electricity, which significantly constrains socio-economic development. The rapid decline in photovoltaic (PV) costs has enabled the deployment of standalone PV microgrids as a promising low-carbon solution for rural electrification. However, their long-term economic viability often remains limited, as they typically power low-revenue domestic loads and rely heavily on costly battery storage to address the mismatch between solar generation and demand.

Expanding PV microgrids to supply electricity for wider community services (e.g., water, health) and productive uses (e.g., milling, small-scale artisanal activities) introduces loads that better align with solar generation profiles. Many of these uses can also generate higher revenues, thereby improving the economic viability of PV microgrids. In addition, they are often compatible with demand-side strategies such as load shifting,...