Energy Production Analysis and Optimization of Mini-Grid in Remote Areas: The Case Study of Habaswein, Kenya

Andrea Micangeli, Riccardo Del Citto, Isaac Nzue Kiva, Simone Giovanni Santori, Valeria Gambino, Jeremiah Kiplagat, Daniele Viganò, Davide Fioriti and Davide Poli
Additional contact information
Andrea Micangeli: DIMA, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00162 Roma, Italy
Riccardo Del Citto: DIMA, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00162 Roma, Italy
Isaac Nzue Kiva: MOEP, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum of Kenya, Nairobi 30582, Kenya
Simone Giovanni Santori: DIMA, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00162 Roma, Italy
Valeria Gambino: DIMA, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00162 Roma, Italy
Jeremiah Kiplagat: KPLC, Kenya Power and Lighting Company, Nairobi 30099, Kenya
Daniele Viganò: Departament of Physics & IAC3, Universitat de les Illes Balears and Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, Palma de Mallorca, E-07122 Baleares, Spain
Davide Fioriti: DESTEC, Department Of Energy, Systems, Territory And Costruction Engineering, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Davide Poli: DESTEC, Department Of Energy, Systems, Territory And Costruction Engineering, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-23

Abstract: Rural electrification in remote areas of developing countries has several challenges which hinder energy access to the population. For instance, the extension of the national grid to provide electricity in these areas is largely not viable. The Kenyan Government has put a target to achieve universal energy access by the year 2020. To realize this objective, the focus of the program is being shifted to establishing off-grid power stations in rural areas. Among rural areas to be electrified is Habaswein, which is a settlement in Kenya’s northeastern region without connection to the national power grid, and where Kenya Power installed a stand-alone hybrid mini-grid. Based on field observations, power generation data analysis, evaluation of the potential energy resources and simulations, this research intends to evaluate the performance of the Habaswein mini-grid and optimize the existing hybrid generation system to enhance its reliability and reduce the operation costs. The result will be a suggestion of how Kenyan rural areas could be sustainably electrified by using renewable energy based off-grid power stations. It will contribute to bridge the current research gap in this area, and it will be a vital tool to researchers, implementers and the policy makers in energy sector.

Keywords: hybrid mini-grid; rural electrification; renewable energy; rural development; energy access (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/12/2041/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/12/2041/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:12:p:2041-:d:121410

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().