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Cited by 35Energy and Environment ImpactsMicrogrid Control and OptimizationICT in Developing Communities

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Electrical Minigrids for Development: Lessons From the Field

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Bahaj, Abubakr S., James, Patrick A. B.·2019·Proceedings of the IEEE
DOI 10.1109/jproc.2019.2924594
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Abstract

Energy services are crucial to human wellbeing and development, and without reliable energy, it is difficult to escape subsistence lifestyles and poverty. Here, we report on four identical capacity rural minigrid interventions undertaken in Kenya and Uganda with differing socioeconomic characteristics and demographics. The research outcomes presented briefly discuss the preparation stages of the interventions including community surveys that informed the technical design, deployment phases, and setup of the community cooperatives to manage the minigrid projects. The main focus here is on lessons learned, including system design and minigrid performance under various load profiles. The results show a clear and increasing uptake of power by the communities with intensities varying depending on the electricity tariff used. Across the four minigrids, daily electricity growth rates are seen to vary by a factor of 8. The Ugandan minigrids operated at close to utility grid tariff and reached the 28-kWh/day design limit within two years. By contrast, the Kenyan minigrids charged a higher cost recovery tariff, which capped the demand and systems operate below the design limit. These findings have implications not only to system design but also to system stability and longevity. The approach taken here, of community centered cooperatives running the delivered minigrids, is now embedded within the rural electrification authorities/agencies in both countries, with additional similar projects being planned in 2019/2020. The application, ramifications, and replication of such a minigrid concept as compared to other approaches are also discussed in this paper.

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Figures

Fig. 1 Electricity access issues to be considered and where minigrid sits within the scope of other technologies, business models, regulations, sustainability, scalability, and tariffs. Here, SHS is solar home systems, PPA is power purchase agreements, and O & M is operations and maintenance.
Fig. 1 Electricity access issues to be considered and where minigrid sits within the scope of other technologies, business models, regulations, sustainability, scalability, and tariffs. Here, SHS is solar home systems, PPA is power purchase agreements, and O & M is operations and maintenance.CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 2 Load profile for Kitonyoni based on needs of the assessment baseline survey. Peak electrical demand was estimated at around 3.2 kWp with a daily demand of 28 kWh. There was no seasonal variation in demand assumed.
Fig. 2 Load profile for Kitonyoni based on needs of the assessment baseline survey. Peak electrical demand was estimated at around 3.2 kWp with a daily demand of 28 kWh. There was no seasonal variation in demand assumed.CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 3 Kitonyoni plant room comprising four charge controllers, 48-V battery bank, and twin inverters. Data monitoring system is on the right-hand side below consumer units of twin distribution circuits. Diesel generator is located on the other side of central bulkhead added to the container.
Fig. 3 Kitonyoni plant room comprising four charge controllers, 48-V battery bank, and twin inverters. Data monitoring system is on the right-hand side below consumer units of twin distribution circuits. Diesel generator is located on the other side of central bulkhead added to the container.CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 4 Top: two-container system under freestanding PV canopy, Kitonyoni, Kenya. Bottom: two containers integrated into the canopy system, Kyamugarura, Uganda (no water collection).
Fig. 4 Top: two-container system under freestanding PV canopy, Kitonyoni, Kenya. Bottom: two containers integrated into the canopy system, Kyamugarura, Uganda (no water collection).CC-BY · From the PDF
Image 5
CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 5 Top: example of poor local contractor quality and poor understanding of electrical risk. Bottom: typical field remediation of poor-quality contractor deployment.
Fig. 5 Top: example of poor local contractor quality and poor understanding of electrical risk. Bottom: typical field remediation of poor-quality contractor deployment.CC-BY · From the PDF
Image 7
CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 6 Average daily profile for Kitonyoni, 2012-2018. Consumption Profile development is influenced by tariff price and charging mechanism ($1 BP 101 KSh, August 2018).
Fig. 6 Average daily profile for Kitonyoni, 2012-2018. Consumption Profile development is influenced by tariff price and charging mechanism ($1 BP 101 KSh, August 2018).CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 7 Kyamugarura minigrid (July 2017, monthly average profile) reaching its daily capacity limit within 24 months of commissioning. Average July 2017, 31 kWh/day being delivered for a 28-kWh/day design load.
Fig. 7 Kyamugarura minigrid (July 2017, monthly average profile) reaching its daily capacity limit within 24 months of commissioning. Average July 2017, 31 kWh/day being delivered for a 28-kWh/day design load.CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 8 Daily power factor variation for Kitonyoni minigrid, August 28, 2014. Daylight hours are shown in white.
Fig. 8 Daily power factor variation for Kitonyoni minigrid, August 28, 2014. Daylight hours are shown in white.CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 9 Power factor variation for Kitonyoni minigrid, 2014-2017.
Fig. 9 Power factor variation for Kitonyoni minigrid, 2014-2017.CC-BY · From the PDF
Fig. 10 Linear correlation of the measured daily demand growth with a number of days of operation. 28-kWh/day design load. Kitonyoni y BP 0.0045x B7 10.0, r2 BP 0.71, Oloika y BP 0.022x B7 10.1, r2 BP 0.81, Kanyegaramire y BP 0.037x B7 6.3, r2 BP 0.88, and Kyamugarura y BP 0.032x B7 6.7, r2 BP 0.68.
Fig. 10 Linear correlation of the measured daily demand growth with a number of days of operation. 28-kWh/day design load. Kitonyoni y BP 0.0045x B7 10.0, r2 BP 0.71, Oloika y BP 0.022x B7 10.1, r2 BP 0.81, Kanyegaramire y BP 0.037x B7 6.3, r2 BP 0.88, and Kyamugarura y BP 0.032x B7 6.7, r2 BP 0.68.CC-BY · From the PDF
Image 13
CC-BY · From the PDF
Image 14
CC-BY · From the PDF
Image 15
CC-BY · From the PDF

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Citations

Cites

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Metadata

Authors
Bahaj, A. S., & James, P. A. B.
Affiliations
University of Southampton (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the IEEE
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Published
2019-09
Volume
107
Issue
9
Pages
1967-1980
ISSN
  • 0018-9219 (ISSN-L)
  • 1558-2256
DOI
10.1109/jproc.2019.2924594
OpenAlex
W2966665436
Cited by
35
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2
FWCI
0.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Proceedings of the IEEE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G06394X/1)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Energy and Environment Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Control and Systems Engineering › Microgrid Control and Optimization
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › ICT in Developing Communities
Keywords
rural electrification, community cooperatives, electricity tariffs, cost recovery, electricity profile, system stability, Kenya, Uganda, lessons learned

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Electrical Minigrids for Development: Lessons From the Field. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1109/jproc.2019.2924594
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Bahaj, A. S., & James, P. A. B. (2019). Electrical Minigrids for Development: Lessons From the Field. Proceedings of the IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/jproc.2019.2924594