Getting access to a reliable electricity supply for the first time can be a transformative development in a community. It allows people to store food, run power tools or sewing machines or a computer. It can be a step change on the long road out of poverty, and it’s why universal energy access Contact online >>
Getting access to a reliable electricity supply for the first time can be a transformative development in a community. It allows people to store food, run power tools or sewing machines or a computer. It can be a step change on the long road out of poverty, and it’s why universal energy access is so important – not just a solar light and a charger, but a decent electricity supply.
In the past, that required a grid connection, and those are expensive. In large developing countries, it would be almost impossible to run the grid all the way out to each last rural town or farmstead, and connection rates are much lower in the countryside.
Renewable energy has changed the economics of electricity connections. It’s now possible to install solar, hydro or wind power and connect it to a local grid. Add storage, and you have a reliable 24 hour supply of clean energy. There’s been a buzz about the potential of them for a while, but costs have now fallen enough that we are beginning to see micro-grids installed in greater numbers.
Developers and technology companies worldwide continue to focus on electrifying energy-poor areas of Africa. Recent example: 40,000 residents and businesses in the northeast African country of Eritrea now have reliable electricity thanks to two new minigrids.
Developed by UK-based Solarcentury, the minigrids (Africa''s term for microgrids) combine solar PV, lithium-ion batteries and diesel generators. The projects — a 1.25-MW minigrid in Areza and the 1-MW minigrid in Maidma — replace small diesel generators, which were comparatively costly and polluting, unreliable and limited in hours of operation.
Solarcentury''s involvement with the Eritrean rural minigrids projects began when it responded to an invitation for proposals issued by EuropeAid in 2016, said Davies. Solarcentury won the fixed-priced contract as the lowest-priced, qualifying bidder.
The project was finished on budget and cost less than extending the utility grid to the two towns, Davies said. Residents and businesses will pay for the mingrid power they consume. Smart meters have been installed to monitor and keep track of their consumption.
"As a model for rural electrification, this presents an alternative technical solution which takes advantage of low-cost solar and energy storage and will provide abundant power 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he said.
Canadian Solar supplied the solar PV modules for the minigrids and SMA the PV inverters. Tesla supplied and supported installation of the energy storage and associated power electronics, and Caterpillar the diesel gen-sets.
"We are technology-agnostic and will choose the best technology for the project. Using second-rate materials in a harsh environment where the cost of replacements and repairs will be high is a common mistake, and we sought to avoid this to ensure reliable operation. The client had also specified that it wanted Tier 1 suppliers — which is in line with our supply strategy— so we selected suppliers who had the ability to support the project as well as providing the right materials at a competitive price," Davies said in an interview.
"Environmentally, the system is expected to deliver power which is 70-80 percent solar — the balance coming from the new back-up generators," he said. "When the generators run they will be optimally loaded by using the batteries so that fuel use will be minimized. This is an improvement of the previous solution which was 100 percent diesel-powered. Obviously the performance and impact of the system can only be determined after some time — as people adapt to having a continually available power supply."
Local economic opportunities should increase by a significant margin as a result of the minigrids coming online, according to Davies. "There are also many wider social benefits, including lighting for study, power for the health clinic and enhanced opportunities for small businesses," he said.
Solarcentury provided extensive training in minigrid operations and maintenance to employees of the Eritrean Electricity (EEC), which will operate and maintain the minigrids going forward. The London, U.K.-based project developer "will also provide after-sales support both on-site and remotely from our Nairobi O&M service hub along with support from colleagues in London who oversee our remote monitoring platforms. The cost of the training and after-sales service is part of the original contract, and going forward this will be an operational cost for the EEC," Davies said.
Funding for the project was provided by the Eritrean government with support from the European Union Delegation to the State of Eritrea and the U.N. Development Programme. "The Eritrean project presents a model for rural electrification, and Solarcentury is in discussions about similar projects across Africa," said Tesfai Ghebrehiwet, director of renewable energy for Eritrea''s Ministry of Energy and Mines.
The rural minigrids project is Solarcentury''s first in Eritrea, but it has been active in Africa for six years and has completed projects in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, including delivering a hybrid minigrid for the Theobroma Group''s Tulip cocoa processing plant in Nigeria. It has also been contracted to deploy a minigrid system that plugs into on site hydro power and diesel generators for Unilever''s tea farm and processing facility in Kenya. The company also expects to start work on its first project in Ghana very soon, according to Davies.
"We are focused on delivering hybrid power solutions for businesses, and we also provide similar technical solutions for end-of-grid or off-grid locations, for example remote communities or mines. Increasingly we are also looking at larger utility-scale projects with solar and batteries to enhance grid stability, reduce power costs and increase capacity," Davies said.
Eritrea now has two solar-diesel mini grids. The infrastructure has recently been commissioned by the British company Solarcentury, which has been building it for eight months. With a capacity of 1.25 MW, the largest is located in Areza, a town in the Debub region of central Areza. The second is located in Maidma with a production capacity of 1 MW.
Both installations are made up of photovoltaic solar panels that produce energy during the day. They are connected to lithium batteries manufactured by Tesla, one of the world’s leading electricity storage companies. To these components, Solarcentury has added American Caterpillar brand generators.
According to Solarcentury, these mini-grids will change the lives of local people. “Communities are at the heart of this project. Our hope is that access to this sustainable electricity will lead to greater economic growth in the region and social development. For example, there is a dispensary in Areza that will now have continuous access to electricity. This project is a good model for rural electrification in Africa and we are in discussions to replicate it elsewhere,” said Theo Guerre-Canon, one of Solarcentury’s managers.
The SME, which employs more than 250 people, estimates that the two mini-grids will provide electricity to 40,000 people in 40 villages, 500 small businesses, 15 schools, 2 kindergartens, 2 community hospitals. It should be noted that before the commissioning of these hybrid power plants, businesses, hospitals or schools operated with generators. The construction of these two hybrid power plants was made possible thanks to funding from the Eritrean Ministry of Energy and Mines, the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Areza and Maidma power plants strengthen Solarcentury’s installed capacity in Africa. In Nigeria, for example, the company installs off grid on the roof for Tulip Cocoa Processing Limited (TCP), a cocoa bean processing company.
About Microgrid operation eritrea
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Microgrid operation eritrea have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Microgrid operation eritrea for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Microgrid operation eritrea featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
