DC System Based Bottom up Grid Extension for Rural Communities

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Wordwide many people live without a connection to the electrical network service. The majority of them are in rural and remote areas from the utility network. Although off-grid electrification mode offers alternative solutions, grid extension is still the preferred mode of electrification for energy access to tier 4. On the other hand, the classic top-down approach for grid extension used by many utilities makes it difficult, even sometime impossible, for rural communities to connect to the grid. Thus need to find alternative approaches for the grid extension. This paper presents a network expansion strategy using a Direct Current system. The approach uses the swarm electrification concept and the existing off-grid solutions in rural communities to develop a grid extension from the end-users to the grid. The DC system is the backbone of the system. The proposed system is modeled and simulated in DIgSILENT PowerFactory environment. The simulation results indicate an efficient-interconnection of the generation units.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 30th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference, SAUPEC 2022
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781665468879
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes
Event30th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference, SAUPEC 2022 - Durban, South Africa
Duration: 25 Jan 202227 Jan 2022

Publication series

NameProceedings - 30th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference, SAUPEC 2022

Conference

Conference30th Southern African Universities Power Engineering Conference, SAUPEC 2022
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityDurban
Period25/01/2227/01/22

Keywords

  • dc grid
  • distribution
  • grid extension
  • microgrid
  • nanogrid
  • rural electrification
  • swarm electrification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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