Optimized network planning of mini-grids for the rural electrification of developing countries

Nolan, Steven and Strachan, Scott and Rakhra, Puran and Frame, Damien (2017) Optimized network planning of mini-grids for the rural electrification of developing countries. In: 2017 IEEE PES PowerAfrica Conference, 2017-06-27 - 2017-06-30, GIMPA Conference Centre. (https://doi.org/10.1109/PowerAfrica.2017.7991274)

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Abstract

1.2 billion people, predominantly living in remote rural regions in countries of the Global South, currently live without access to any modern source of energy. Options for electrification of these communities include extending existing national grid infrastructure, deploying mini-grids, and installing standalone home systems (SHS). Deriving the most cost effective means of delivering energy to these consumers is a complex, multidimensional problem that normally requires determination on a case-by-case basis. However, optimization of the network planning may help to maximize the socio-economic return of the installed energy system. This paper presents an optimization process that minimizes the installation cost of a mix of generation sources for a rural mini-grid using a multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) technique. Minimizing the cost of distribution layout is first formulated as a capacitated minimum spanning tree (CMST) problem and solved using the Esau-Williams method. Multiple cable sizes and source locations are then added to create a multi-level capacitated minimum spanning tree (MLCMST) problem, solved via a Genetic Algorithm (GA) employing Prim-Pred encoding. The method is applied to a case study village in India.

ORCID iDs

Nolan, Steven ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0007-1736, Strachan, Scott ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2690-496X, Rakhra, Puran ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9811-3027 and Frame, Damien ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3236-2738;
  • Item type:Conference or Workshop Item(Paper)
    ID code:61752
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    27 July 2017
    Published
    25 May 2017
    Accepted
    Notes:(c) 2017 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.
    Subjects:Technology > Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
    Department:Faculty of Engineering > Electronic and Electrical Engineering
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:07 Sep 2017 10:58
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 16:52
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/61752
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