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Network Cost Estimation for Mini-Grids in Large-Scale Rural Electrification Planning

Author

Listed:
  • Pedro Ciller

    (Institute for Research in Technology (IIT), ICAI, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain)

  • Sara Lumbreras

    (Institute for Research in Technology (IIT), ICAI, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain)

  • Andrés González-García

    (Institute for Research in Technology (IIT), ICAI, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Universal access to electricity is a crucial challenge in many developing countries. Establishing the electrification agenda of an underserved region is a complicated task where computer models play a critical role in calculating geospatial plans that efficiently allocate resources. Such plans should include—among other things—reasonable estimations of the designs and economic costs of standalone systems, mini-grids, and grid extensions. This implies that computer models need to estimate the network cost for many potential mini-grids. To that end, most planning tools apply quick rules of thumb or geometric methods that ignore power flows and electric constraints, which play a significant role in network designs. This paper presents a methodology that rapidly estimates any low-voltage mini-grid network cost without neglecting the impact of electrical feasibility in such cost. We present a case study where we evaluate our method in terms of accuracy and computation time. We also compare our method with a quick estimation similar to the ones most regional planning tools apply, showing the effectiveness of our method.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedro Ciller & Sara Lumbreras & Andrés González-García, 2021. "Network Cost Estimation for Mini-Grids in Large-Scale Rural Electrification Planning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:21:p:7382-:d:673037
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Alexandros Korkovelos & Babak Khavari & Andreas Sahlberg & Mark Howells & Christopher Arderne, 2019. "The Role of Open Access Data in Geospatial Electrification Planning and the Achievement of SDG7. An OnSSET-Based Case Study for Malawi," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-36, April.
    5. Ciller, Pedro & Lumbreras, Sara, 2020. "Electricity for all: The contribution of large-scale planning tools to the energy-access problem," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    6. Pedro Ciller & Fernando de Cuadra & Sara Lumbreras, 2019. "Optimizing Off-Grid Generation in Large-Scale Electrification-Planning Problems: A Direct-Search Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-22, December.
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