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Set-up in 2009, the solar diesel hybrid minigrid in Enam Nahar market in Sandwip Island is the oldest running minigrid of its kind in Bangladesh. Several similar minigrids are under construction in different parts of Bangladesh and the experience from this pioneer minigrid should serve as a valuable source of information for up-coming entrepreneurs as well as for financing organizations and government regulators alike. This minigrid has been considerably successful in terms of customer satisfaction. However, there have also been a multitude of problems with respect to competition from the extension of grid systems by national utility to the same site, as well as in terms of technical matters related to logistics and maintenance in this remote costal environment. These factors are critically reflected within this work and conclusions are drawn for the planning of further minigrids in the country.

In the context of the rural electrification challenge, sharing-based nanogrids represent an innovative approach for affordable and sustainable electricity. The peer-to-peer topology of these nanogrids is targeted at organic growth and thus requires real time monitoring and optimization. A data analysis tool has been developed, aiming at achieving an efficient power flow and real time optimization of generation, storage, load and distribution capacities. This paper elaborates the core algorithms of the network topology optimization and provides first results based on data from a pilot nanogrid in Bangladesh.