Methodology for the Energy Need Assessment to Effectively Design and Deploy Mini-Grids for Rural Electrification

Valeria Gambino,Paolo Cherubini,Carlo Tacconelli,Andrea Micangeli,Riccardo Del Citto,Romano Giglioli

doi:10.3390/en12030574

Valeria Gambino, Paolo Cherubini + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en12030574

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Abstract

In order to successfully deploy a large number of decentralized energy systems in developing countries, it is necessary to standardize effective methodologies and procedures to develop off-grid/mini-grid systems. Considering that the energy need assessment provides inputs and assumptions used in business modelling and mini-grid design, the accuracy of its results directly affects the technical and financial feasibility studies. Thus, the approach for applying a proven methodology for the energy need assessment of rural communities is aimed at obtaining reliable input data for the mini-grid development. This helps in reducing both the financial challenges by mitigating the uncertainties in electricity demand and the technical challenges by contributing to adequately size off-grid power generation systems, with a view to boost toward a common overall objective of mini-grid’s optimization methods and tools. Hence, taking into consideration that target communities differ in terms of needs and context conditions, the proposed paper describes an inclusive methodology that can be adapted case-by-case. It provides an effective applied solution the lack of proven guidelines from project developers or literature, giving priority to data collection methods able to achieve a large sample representative of the market, with high accuracy in estimating the energy consumptions from electricity substitutes.

Highlights

Energy is crucial for eradication of poverty through advancements in health, education, water supply and industrialization, to combating climate change [1]
The presented methodology for energy need assessment has been tested and improved time since 2012. It has been applied in 9 data collection campaigns for a total of 42 villages assessed in Central America and East Africa
The evidence of its reliability is given by comparing a key output of the energy need assessment with the actual value adopted in the mini-grid implementation: the willing to pay of potential customers

Summary

Introduction

Energy is crucial for eradication of poverty through advancements in health, education, water supply and industrialization, to combating climate change [1]. Notwithstanding progress in every area of sustainable energy, energy poverty still involves a large proportion of the population living in developing countries, mainly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that currently 1.1 billion people lack access to electricity, with an electrification rate in Sub-Saharan Africa of 43% [2]. It is estimated that 2.8 billion people still lack access to clean cooking [2], and the use of traditional biomass cookstoves is responsible for approximately. To mention one of the largest global initiatives showing the international commitment to solve the problem of energy poverty, the United Nations launched in 2011 Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), having the core objective to assure universal access to modern and sustainable energy by. Thanks to the high visibility being given to the initiative during the Rio+20 Conference, SEforALL embarked on uncharted territory and rapidly generated momentum, clearly stating, inter alia, that the cooperation among research, private and public sector is the key to achieve these goals [4]

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