Mini-grid based electrification for off-grid rural and remote areas has achieved a considerable attention among the energy poor developing nations, development partners, NGOs and donor organizations. Although Direct Current (DC) is native to Solar Photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation and some of the most commonly used off-grid appliances are inherently DC in nature, applications of DC mini-grids (DCMG) are very rare in developing countries.
ECCD successfully completed the research project, ‘Efficient VERsatile Energy Services Solution Through DC’ (DCMG). This research project, which considered Sub-Saharan Africa proposes a DCMG platform to serve rural and remote areas beyond the utility grid. Key values of DCMG along with niche applications and potential financing tools have been identified through extensive reports and literature reviews. Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) from such DC mini-grids have been studied and compared with equivalent AC mini-grids and diesel grids using HOMER micro-grid simulation. Outcome are currently been put forward for publication.
