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Accounting for low solar resource days to size 100% solar microgrids power systems in Africa

Author

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  • Nicolas Plain

    (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA [2016-2019] - Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019], IGE - Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INSU - CNRS - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA [2016-2019] - Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] - Fédération OSUG - Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble, Schneider Electric/ Strategy and Innovation - SE - Schneider Electric)

  • B. Hingray

    (IGE - Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INSU - CNRS - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA [2016-2019] - Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] - Fédération OSUG - Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble)

  • Sandrine Mathy

    (GAEL - Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA [2016-2019] - Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019])

Abstract

In many regions worldwide, the electrification of rural areas is expected to be partly achieved through micro power grids. Compliance with the COP21 conference requires that such systems mainly build on renewable energy sources. To deliver a high power and quality service may be difficult to be achieved, especially when micro-grids are based on variable renewable sources. We here explore the multiscale temporal variability of the local solar resource in Africa and its implication for the development of 100% solar systems. Using high resolution satellite data of global horizontal irradiance (GHI) for a 21-year period (1995–2015), we characterize the seasonality and temporal variability of the local resource. We focus on its low percentile values which give a first guess on the size of the solar panels surface required for the micro-grid to achieve a given quality service. We assess the characteristics and especially persistence of the low resource situations, for which the local demand would not be satisfied. We finally assess how the ability of electricity consumers for some day-to-day flexibility (e.g. via the postponement of part of one day as demand to the next), would help to achieve the design level of service quality with a smaller microgrid system.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Plain & B. Hingray & Sandrine Mathy, 2019. "Accounting for low solar resource days to size 100% solar microgrids power systems in Africa," Post-Print hal-01848161, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01848161
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.036
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    Cited by:

    1. Hanieh Seyedhashemi & Benoît Hingray & Christophe Lavaysse & Théo Chamarande, 2021. "The Impact of Low-Resource Periods on the Reliability of Wind Power Systems for Rural Electrification in Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Fernando Antonanzas-Torres & Javier Antonanzas & Julio Blanco-Fernandez, 2021. "State-of-the-Art of Mini Grids for Rural Electrification in West Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Martin Kittel & Alexander Roth & Wolf-Peter Schill, 2024. "Coping with the Dunkelflaute: Power system implications of variable renewable energy droughts in Europe," Papers 2411.17683, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2025.
    4. Vinny Motjoadi & Pitshou N. Bokoro & Moses O. Onibonoje, 2020. "A Review of Microgrid-Based Approach to Rural Electrification in South Africa: Architecture and Policy Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, May.
    5. T. Chamarande & S. Mathy & B. Hingray, 2022. "The least cost design of 100% solar power microgrids in Africa: sensitivity to meteorological and economic drivers and possibility for simple pre-sizing rules," Post-Print hal-03740059, HAL.
    6. Zheng, Shuangjin & Liu, Bo & Erfan, Mohammadian & Liu, Yan & Tian, Shansi, 2024. "Sustainable in-situ steam injection approach for shale oil extraction in Xinjiang, China: A technical and economic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    7. T. Chamarande & B. Hingray & Sandrine Mathy, 2024. "Carbon footprint of solar based mini-grids in Africa: Drivers and levers for reduction," Post-Print hal-04721670, HAL.
    8. Chamarande, T. & Hingray, B. & Mathy, S., 2024. "Carbon footprint of solar based mini-grids in Africa: Drivers and levers for reduction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    9. Hsiang-He Lee & Robert S. Arthur & Jean-Christophe Golaz & Thomas A. Edmunds & Jessica L. Wert & Matthew V. Signorotti & Jean-Paul Watson, 2025. "Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Renewable Energy Resources in Western North America," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-27, July.
    10. François, B. & Puspitarini, H.D. & Volpi, E. & Borga, M., 2022. "Statistical analysis of electricity supply deficits from renewable energy sources across an Alpine transect," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 1200-1212.
    11. Clauzel, Léo & Anquetin, Sandrine & Lavaysse, Christophe & Tremoy, Guillaume & Raynaud, Damien, 2024. "West African operational daily solar forecast errors and their link with meteorological conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).

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