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The design of renewable energy systems traditionally emphasizes life cycle costs, often focusing primarily on emissions rather than a comprehensive life cycle impact assessment. This research proposes a four‐tier methodology to balance cost‐effectiveness and sustainability in the electrification of remote areas. Tier 1 focuses on understanding the community context by analyzing electrical load profiles, meteorological data, and component specifications for microgrid design. Tier 2 evaluates the feasibility of various systems, optimizing them through cost analysis and Multi‐Criteria Decision‐Making (MCDM) to rank alternatives. Tier 3 assesses environmental impacts using life cycle assessment, ranking alternatives based on environmental criteria. Tier 4 integrates cost and environmental rankings to determine the most suitable energy configurations, followed by sensitivity analysis to ensure robust decision‐making. The methodology is validated through a case study of an unelectrified remote community, demonstrating that the PV‐Wind Turbine‐Biomass Generator‐Converter configuration is the most robust alternative, proving to be the optimal choice in 50% of the analyzed scenarios, achieving a Cost of Energy of 0.213 USD/kWh while minimizing environmental impact across all 18 criteria considered over a 25‐year life cycle. This novel framework offers a scalable approach to designing renewable energy systems, enhancing sustainable electrification efforts in developing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgency of addressing environmental challenges has become more apparent than ever in recent years. Using existing renewable resources and reducing environmental impacts is critical for boosting economic growth and sustainable development. Ethiopia has limited access to modern bioenergy because of insufficient biomass data and policy gaps. This study estimated the theoretical potential of forest residue biomass resources for modern bioenergy production in Ethiopia. A combination of forest statistics data, publicly available data, literature models, and standard procedures was utilized. Ethiopia generates approximately 16.4 million dry tons of recoverable forest residue biomass each year. This indicates that the theoretical energy potential of forest residue available in Ethiopia is about 1.8–4.93 billion liters of ethanol each year, equivalent to 172%–469% of the country's gasoline consumption. Alternatively, the same amount of residue could generate 1.23–3.29 billion liters of biodiesel (biomass to Fischer–Tropsch) each year, accounting for 40%–107% of the country's biodiesel consumption. The theoretical estimations also show that the recoverable forest residues have the potential to produce about 12.7–34 TWh of electricity. This could significantly improve remote rural household electrification while decreasing the country's reliance on fuel wood biomass for traditional biofuels by 26%. The findings indicate that generating modern bioenergy from forest biomass residue has the potential to contribute to Ethiopia's energy mix, boost rural power access, and open new avenues for socioeconomic development. Finally, it can be concluded that the study findings reported in this study are useful to energy professionals, researchers, and policymakers interested in biomass fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a modern and globalized world, the advances in technology are rapid, especially in terms of energy generation through renewable sources, which is intended to mitigate global warming and reduce all the ravages that are currently occurring around the world. Photovoltaic and biomass generation sources are attractive for implementation due to the abundant energy resources they offer; however, the intermittency of these sources is a disadvantage when it comes to the needs of the load, decreasing the reliability of the system. Therefore, it is essential to use a backup and storage system such as a diesel generator and a battery bank to continuously supply the load demand. This work presents a case study to meet the energy needs of a community made up of 17 low-income homes on an island in the Gulf of Guayaquil in Ecuador. The optimization and economic evaluation of the hybrid system is achieved using specialized software, resulting in the optimized architecture of the renewable energy system based on the available resources of the locality. The architecture is made up of a 22 kW photovoltaic generator and a 1.5 kW biomass generator, while the diesel generator is 12 kW, the battery bank is made up of 58 units of 111 Ah, and the dispatch strategy is load tracking. The results of the economic evaluation indicate that the total cost of the system (TNPC) is USD 96,033, the initial cost for the implementation of the system is USD 36,944, and the levelized cost of energy is USD 0.276, which makes it attractive for implementation. The importance of this research lies in its practical approach to solving electrification challenges in isolated and low-income communities through a hybrid renewable energy system. By demonstrating how intermittent sources like solar and biomass can be effectively combined with backup and storage systems, the study provides a reliable, economically viable, and implementable solution, addressing both the global need to mitigate climate change and the local need for accessible energy in vulnerable regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, energy security and electrification of rural area remains significant challenges. In addressing energy changes, solar photovoltaic (SPV) systems will play a major role, particularly in remote and rural areas. This research presents the design and performance assessment of a hybrid SPV plant integrated with battery energy storage system (BESS) at a government school within an Indian village. This hybrid SPV system is designed to utilize grid electricity when available, switch to solar power during the day when it is available, and use stored battery power at night time. The designed SPV system is of 1785 Wp, capacity coupled with a 560 Ah battery pack. The performance metrics, energy production, and storage efficiency, are analyzed using simulation data from PVsyst software. The results shows that system produces an annual energy of 2149.28 kWh/year and shows a performance ratio (PR) of 72.75% and a solar fraction (SF) of 98.31%. This proposed hybrid SPV system ensures continuous power supply, reduces dependency on the grid, and significantly lowers CO₂ emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of solar energy at a regional scale necessitates a thorough understanding of available resources. Cuba, facing prolonged economic, environmental, and energy crises, urgently needs to enhance its sustainability through solar energy. Although solar resource mapping is widespread, Cuba lacks extensive field measurements, often relying on models that may not be ideally suited for large regions, like Matanzas province. Spanning over 12,000 km² with nearly 150 km between its northern and southern extremes, Matanzas presents challenges for high-resolution solar mapping. This study introduces a methodology that integrates various methods and databases to achieve the maximum resolution in the resulting solar map. This approach is designed for large areas, where conventional high-resolution models fall short. By optimizing calculation times and parameterizing the entire surface latitudinally, a high-resolution solar resource map for Matanzas has been developed. This map significantly enhances the understanding of solar resources in Cuba and enables the proposal of new methodologies for analyzing solar potential in similarly large regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) played a central role in delineating the Tennessee Valley as an energy region. Utilizing mapping as critical practice, this study delves into the spatial history of the region, examining how the construction of an integrated network of hydroelectric dams by the TVA underpinned a regime of techno-environmental development. By bringing together historical cartographic information and archival sources, mapping reveals how environmental, technological, and social infrastructures intertwined to create a complex geopolitical terrain. The emergent geography of the region demonstrates the TVA's belief that techno-environmental region-building could serve as a vehicle for progressive social change and provide a substitute for existing racialized political geographies. However, despite the TVA's public intentions, the benefits of development were unevenly distributed, ultimately perpetuating racial disparities and socioeconomic inequities. As our need to rethink energy infrastructure gains urgency, the map and accompanying text hope to provide reflection on the infrastructural underpinnings of the Tennessee Valley, offering potential insight for contemporary discussion on energy transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to design the best off-grid integrated renewable energy (IRE) system for the electrification of twelve villages located in the Munsyari Block of district Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand state (India). Three off-grid IRE systems consisting of a solar photovoltaic (SPV) system/micro-hydro power (MHP)/biogas generator (BGG) and various battery energy storage (BES) devices like Lead-Acid (LA), Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), and Sodium-Sulfur (NAS) have been proposed and optimized on the MATLAB to meet 8760-hour load demand. According to the simulation results, the total life cycle cost (LCC) and cost of energy (COE) of the SPV/MHP/BGG/NAS (base case) are INR 68.77 million and 16.77 INR/kWh, respectively. It offers approximately 20% and 100% lower LCCs than LA and Li-Ion battery-based IRE systems, respectively. The proposed system includes 676 SPV panels (NSPV), 648 BES devices (NBES), micro-hydro power of 25 kW capacity, biogas generator of 40 kW capacity, and power converter of 114 kW. Furthermore, the performance of the IRE system was evaluated by taking into account the load-resource associated uncertainties, and it was discovered that the LCC, COE, NSPV, NBES, and excess energy are increased by approximately 66%, 75%, 17%, 318%, and 373%, respectively, when compared to the base case. Finally, the sensitivity analysis has been conducted with the variable input parameters, such as inflation rate, discount rate, solar radiation, and dung collection efficiency. It is found that the variation in inflation rate significantly reduces the system LCC by 21.81 million INR. Whereas, variation in discount rate significantly increases the system COE by 5.72 INR/kWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 1 billion people still lack electricity access. Developing countries are investing billions of dollars in "last-mile" electrification, although evidence on its economic impacts is mixed. We estimate the development effects of rural electrification in the context of India's national electrification program, RGGVY (Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana), which reached over 400,000 villages. Using regression-discontinuity and difference-in-differences designs, we estimate that RGGVY meaningfully expanded electricity access. However, the program generated limited economic impacts after 3–5 years. Scaling our intent-to-treat estimates using instrumental variables, we find that "full electrification" reduces welfare in small villages but has a 33% internal rate of return in large villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of access to electricity on rural household business startups across 3 channels: (1) access to rural electrification programmes, (2) access to power (irrespective of the source) and (3) connection to the grid. We use inverse probability weighted regression adjustment on survey data collected from the central region of rural Uganda and apply propensity score matching (PSM) as a check to the robustness of our results. Our primary results reveal substantial and significant impacts of electricity access on household business start-ups across the three channels. Our findings remain robust, and hidden bias does not affect our results. We find that access to power seems to have a more significant impact than access to the other two channels. This suggests that for a better understanding of how electricity affects rural areas, a comprehensive analysis of all power sources is crucial. Additionally, we show that access to electricity primarily influences the establishment of service-related enterprises rather than manufacturing and processing enterprises. From a policy standpoint, our results indicate that developing a rural transformation program through enhanced electrification interventions necessitates multiple support programmes beyond merely extending the grid lines to rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A novel control mechanism is presented for rural microgrids, standing out in the current literature with its advanced approach to load prioritisation and energy allocation. The system's main goal is to maximise energy supply to essential loads while effectively managing available resources. Distinct from traditional methods, this mechanism dynamically classifies loads according to user‐defined priorities, adjustable based on the control system's computational power and complexity. A critical feature is the utilisation of the Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) algorithm to optimise demand side management (DSM). This innovative approach leverages day‐ahead load and generation forecasts to ensure optimal energy distribution across load levels, maintaining continuous power supply to high‐priority loads and reducing blackout risks due to generation and load fluctuations. Analyses under stochastic scenarios demonstrate the robustness of the control action, with percentile‐based day‐ahead forecasting allowing for adaptation to significant variations in renewable energy generation patterns. The implementation results are significant, maintaining 100% supply continuity to essential loads throughout the day, even with generation fluctuations up to ‐20%. This marks a considerable improvement in load satisfaction, increasing it from 83% to 96%. A significant advancement in microgrid control is contributed, providing an adaptive, user‐centric approach that enhances load management and energy distribution, and facilitates more resilient and efficient microgrid systems in the face of highly variable renewable energy sources (RESs).

Rural electrification is a crucial step for the socio-economic development of isolated communities. Decentralized power generation, typically more favorable for renewable energies, requires an accurate analysis of the different electrification options, whose convenience depends on multiple factors. The application of Geographical Information Systems (GISs) to energy planning allows the assessment at a local level, considering the variability and demand distribution of spatial resources. This work introduces IntiGIS-local, a GIS-based model implemented in the ArcGIS environment, designed to calculate the levelized energy cost (LEC) for different electrification options. The model allows the comparison between three power generation alternatives: solar system, diesel generator set and solar–diesel hybrid system. Configurations are adjustable through input variables, with a special focus on the confrontation between individual systems and microgrids. The objective is to provide an adequate groundwork for developing a decision-making tool to assess diverse rural electrification options in future studies. The model IntiGIS-local is tested in the case study of the Guasasa community (Cuba). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] It reveals the spatial distribution of carbon flow and the key path of carbon element transfer in Bin County, grasps the existing problems of Bin County's Production-Living-Ecological (PLE) space ecological environment, and then provides theoretical support for the future low-carbon rural planning and land-use resilience planning and management decisions in Bin County area. [Methods] Bin County was taken as an example. The overall metabolic network model of rural carbon elements' was constructed to identify and master the evolution law of the PLE spatial pattern, to quantitatively measure the characteristics of carbon sources, carbon sinks and the spatial-temporal dynamic changes of carbon elements in Bin County. [Results] (1) The predominant use of land continued to be for cultivation, while other types of land use displayed varying degrees of change, impacting the ecological environment. (2) Bin County's expanding residential areas had resulted in an initial surge, followed by a decrease in overall carbon emissions. In 2010, carbon emissions of Bin County spiked to 3.07 times of their previous levels, marking a crescendo. In 2020. the emissions of Bin County decreased by 2.25 million tons. The increase in the carbon sink was associated with the alteration in the area of the ecological space. (3) The spatial distribution of high carbon sink and source density mainly concentrated in the central and western parts of Bin County. The cultivated land production space and urban living space were the key components of carbon transfer in the two periods, respectively, and the mutual carbon transfer between the two land uses was also the dominant transfer path in different periods. [Conclusion] The spatial distribution of carbon flow and key paths of carbon element transfer in Bin County mainly concentrate in the areas with rapid urbanization process, where the ecological environment has serious problems. In the future, land use elasticity planning can promote regional sustainable development by formulating sustainable rural low-carbon emission reduction strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature shows that only 56% of Kenyan households had access to electricity, with rural areas having the lowest access rate at percent. The high cost of extending the power grid to remote areas and power losses on distribution are significant challenges facing rural electrification. In addressing power accessibility problems, especially in rural areas, there is a need for tapping hydropower generation through the invention and implementation of in‐duct turbines to maximize the utilization of already existing pressurized water ducts that supply water in various parts of Kenya for hydropower generation. Makueni County is endowed with gravity‐fed water ducts with high potential for hydropower which can innovatively be produced by application of in‐duct turbines. This paper focuses on the assessment of energy needs and applications in rural areas. The research design was exploratory and experimental in nature. It was exploratory because, through an assessment, it sought to explore and identify the potential areas within the water supply lines for the production of hydropower to supply hydropower in Makueni County. It was experimental because the researcher developed (designed and fabricated) a hydro turbine for use in the production of hydropower from gravity water ducts of a diameter raging 100 mm. The research revealed that 62% (98) used solar power for lighting their homes, while 17% (28), 12% (20), and 8% (12) used lanterns, electricity, and kerosene lamps, respectively. Among the fuels assessed was firewood which was identified as the most used fuel at 89% (140). This was followed at a distance far by paraffin at 6% (9) of respondents. The households at 100% (158) identified electricity as a potential source of lighting for their household. The study recommends harnessing hydropower to enhance reach to 100% of the rural communities. The energy availability will provide opportunities for communities and institutions in rural areas to open their minds to business development and engage in income‐generating activities like the rearing of poultry and the development of light industries like the gridding of maize and other cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: PV/diesel microgrids are getting more popular in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, where the national grid is often unavailable. Most of the time, for economic purposes, these hybrid PV/diesel power plants in rural areas do not include any storage system. This is the case in the Bilgo village in Burkina Faso, where a PV/diesel microgrid without any battery storage system has been set up. This power plant is composed of three diesel generators operating in parallel (two of 16 kW and one of 24 kW), coupled with a photovoltaic field of 30 kWp. It was observed that for such power plants, the grid management is not always efficient due to constantly fluctuating solar output and loads. This inconsistency in energy output raises the question if integrating battery energy storage systems could improve the grid's performance. While many studies in the literature focus on hybrid energy systems, only a few of them have tackled the optimization of existing and operational systems. Methods: This study investigated three scenarios based on the existing microgrid's characteristics: conventional standalone diesel generators, PV/diesel without battery storage and PV/diesel with a battery storage system which are the main technologies used for off-grid rural electrification in Burkina Faso. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) was used to assess the economic performance of each scenario, and the calculations were made using the HOMER software. Results: It was found that the best among the scenarios considered is the PV/diesel/battery configuration which has the lowest LCOE of US$ 0.524/kWh. The battery storage system for the optimal configuration has a capacity of 182 kWh with about 8 h of autonomy. Conclusions: It can be inferred from this study that a storage unit is necessary for an optimal management of a PV/diesel microgrid. Indeed, the storage unit significantly reduces the operating and maintenance costs associated with running diesel generators, as well as the excess electricity. The storage system also allows for a greater reduction in CO2 emissions compared to systems without storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mini‐grid electrification constitutes an increasingly important solution to universal access to energy, notably in off‐grid rural Africa. Rural electrification has important implications for mitigating the immigration trends of the rural population toward urban regions. In this study, we adopted a mediation model to investigate the direct and indirect effects of mini‐grid electrification on the urbanization process, and multivariate regression is employed as a robustness check. More specifically, with the support of a mini‐grid project in Ghana, we conducted a survey to assess the perception of the local population about the impact of rural electrification on healthcare, education, employment, and security and further examined the impact of these development outcomes on their willingness to immigrate to cities. The study's findings suggested that the development of rural electrification helped improve education, healthcare, security, and employment, significantly affecting urbanization. Our study concluded that increased electricity access through mini‐grids tends to reduce the urbanization trends in rural Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the design feasibility and economic advantage of photovoltaic (PV)-diesel generator (DG)-battery, PV-wind-battery, and PV-biogas (BG)-battery hybrid systems. The objective of this study is to investigate the performance of the three hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) for sustainable electricity supply in remote areas of Afghanistan. Hybrid optimization model for multiple energy resources (HOMER) software was utilized to perform modeling, optimization, economic, sensitivity, and multi-year analysis of the hybrid systems. The findings indicates that the PV-biomass-battery hybrid system with $175,938 net present cost (NPC) and $0.29/kWh cost of energy (COE) is the most appropriate approach than the PV-DG-battery, PV-wind-battery and diesel-only system. However, the COE in optimal HRES is higher than the COE supplied by Afghanistan's national grid to the household resident in large cities, but COE in the hybrid system is about 37% lower than the cost of energy in the study area and some provinces of Afghanistan. The multi-year analysis was performed on the PV-biogas-battery hybrid system with considering a 0.8% yearly degradation of PV panels and a 2% load increase annually. The results show about an 11.2% increase in NPC and a 6.2% decrease in COE compare to the system without multi-year consideration. Moreover, the outputs from HOMER were evaluated using the Simplex algorithm. The results indicate that there were no significant variations in the results from HOMER and Simplex algorithms. Therefore, this illustrates that the simulations were consistent. The study's findings are anticipated to be helpful to stakeholders, decision-makers, and investors to achieve the goals and increase the electricity access rate in remote areas of Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The welfare of the villages is one of the primary objectives of the rural electrification programmes. Compared to electrifying urban regions, electrifying rural areas is more expensive. Energy requirements in rural areas can be met using hybrid energy technologies. This study proposes a cost-effective power solution to reduce the net present cost (NPC), cost of energy (COE), unmet loads and CO2 emissions. Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) and Homer Pro are used to optimize the size of the components of the system. The combination of solar, wind and biogas with a battery storage system is cost-effective with zero unmet loads. Of the three combinations considered, the values of COE and NPC for combination-1 were 0.156 ($/kWh) and $2.05 M respectively. The comparative analysis of optimization between the GWO technique and Homer Pro carried out shows that the value of COE and NPC are reduced by 5.45% and 3.30% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The design of renewable energy systems traditionally emphasizes life cycle costs, often focusing primarily on emissions rather than a comprehensive life cycle impact assessment. This research proposes a four‐tier methodology to balance cost‐effectiveness and sustainability in the electrification of remote areas. Tier 1 focuses on understanding the community context by analyzing electrical load profiles, meteorological data, and component specifications for microgrid design. Tier 2 evaluates the feasibility of various systems, optimizing them through cost analysis and Multi‐Criteria Decision‐Making (MCDM) to rank alternatives. Tier 3 assesses environmental impacts using life cycle assessment, ranking alternatives based on environmental criteria. Tier 4 integrates cost and environmental rankings to determine the most suitable energy configurations, followed by sensitivity analysis to ensure robust decision‐making. The methodology is validated through a case study of an unelectrified remote community, demonstrating that the PV‐Wind Turbine‐Biomass Generator‐Converter configuration is the most robust alternative, proving to be the optimal choice in 50% of the analyzed scenarios, achieving a Cost of Energy of 0.213 USD/kWh while minimizing environmental impact across all 18 criteria considered over a 25‐year life cycle. This novel framework offers a scalable approach to designing renewable energy systems, enhancing sustainable electrification efforts in developing regions.

The pursuit of electrifying rural areas has been a multi-decade quest, emblematic of Nigeria's longstanding efforts to diversify its energy sources and reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels. Accordingly, this study aims to evaluate the electrification status and perform a techno-economic analysis of a hybrid system to ensure electricity reliability, bill reduction and reduced grid demand for three representative rural communities in Rivers State using HOMER Pro Software. Subsequently, five hybrid system scenarios that encompassed different combinations of the grid, PV modules, wind and battery, were examined using the CRITIC-PROMETHEE II methodologies. Each community was assessed based on its own hourly electricity demand, using data obtained from the injection substation. The Aluu, Choba and Rumuekini communities experienced an average daily electricity supply of 4.6, 5.4 and 6.2 h respectively from the national grid with energy usage of 5436.4 MW for Aluu, 3375.4 MW for Choba and 1626.1 MW for Rumuekini, in 2022. The findings indicate that the grid/PV module was the optimal choice for the three communities. Moreover, the cost of energy (COE) for the proposed systems ranged from 0.0181 $/kWh to 0.0185 $/kWh, significantly lower than the grid's COE of 0.08625 $/kWh in the respective communities. This research further includes a sensitivity analysis of the optimal system, examining variations in PV cost, discount rate, inflation rate, annual scaled solar irradiance and electrical demand. The results provide a comprehensive framework to support decision-making, optimize system design and align renewable energy solutions with project goals and stakeholder priorities.

Access to sustainable, clean, affordable, and reliable electricity is crucial for social and economic development, yet Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) struggles significantly in this context. In CHAD, only 11.3% of the population is able to access electricity, making it one of the least electrified countries in SSA with the lowest clean energy access. In rural areas, electricity access falls to just 1.3%. This research applies and executes a Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) algorithm using MATLAB R2023b to assess the techno-economic, environmental, and social impacts of a hybrid system based on optimal PV/Wind/Battery/Fuel Cell (FC)/Diesel generator (DG) sizing for rural electrification in CHAD. The proposed system's self-sufficiency index (SSSI) and the Annualized System Cost (ASC) were chosen as objective functions to guarantee the economic feasibility of the system, higher self-sufficiency, and lower dependence on external energy sources (DG). The simulation results show that the optimal size of the proposed system supplies the load demand by 100% of the renewable energy sources (RES) fraction, and the optimal capacities of the main components to supply the load demand are: Solar Power (493 KW), Wind Turbine (166 KW), Battery Energy Charge/Discharge (229180 kWh /221300 kWh), Hydrogen tank storage energy (83 874 kWh), Electrolyzer size (202 KW), Fuel cell size (144 KW). The evelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of 0.2982 $/kWh, which is 51.12% lower than the national unit production costs of electricity in rural areas of CHAD (0.61 $/kWh). This LCOE is also the lowest compared to previous works done using HOMER Pro for the country of CHAD. The results also give a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of 3.8563 US $/kg, lower than for all studies found in the literature for the country of Chad. The proposed system's yearly avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is 374 640 kg. The proposed system will create five (5) new jobs (JCO) and improve the Human Development Index (HDI) of the study area by 17.66% (the obtained HDI is 0.4683, and the CHAD HDI is 0.398) with an SSSI of 51.14%. This study provides a better practical energy design tool in decision-making for designers, companies, investors, policymakers, and the Chadian government when implementing this type of system in particular rural locations.

Abstract This paper explores scenarios for powering rural areas in Gaita Selassie with renewable energy plants, aiming to reduce system costs by optimizing component numbers to meet energy demands. Various scenarios, such as combining solar photovoltaic (PV) with pumped hydro-energy storage (PHES), utilizing wind energy with PHES, and integrating a hybrid system of PV, wind, and PHES, have been evaluated based on diverse criteria, encompassing financial aspects and reliability. To achieve the results, meta-heuristics such as the Multiobjective Gray wolf optimization algorithm (MOGWO) and Multiobjective Grasshopper optimization algorithm (MOGOA) were applied using MATLAB software. Moreover, optimal component sizing has been investigated utilizing real-time assessment data and meteorological data from Gaita Sillasie, Ethiopia. Metaheuristic optimization techniques were employed to pinpoint the most favorable loss of power supply probability (LPSP) with the least cost of energy (COE) and total life cycle cost (TLCC) for the hybrid system, all while meeting operational requirements in various scenarios. The Multi-Objective Grey Wolf Optimization (MOGWO) technique outperformed the Multi-Objective Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (MOGOA) in optimizing the problem, as suggested by the results. Furthermore, based on MOGWO findings, the hybrid solar PV-Wind-PHES system demonstrated the lowest COE (0.126€/kWh) and TLCC (€6,897,300), along with optimal satisfaction of the village's energy demand and LPSP value. In the PV-Wind-PHSS scenario, the TLCC and COE are 38%, 18%, 2%, and 1.5% lower than those for the Wind-PHS and PV-PHSS scenarios at LPSP 0%, according to MOGWO results. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into the design and implementation of sustainable energy solutions for remote communities, paving the way for enhanced energy access and environmental sustainability.

Abstract In the context of modern agricultural production mode and domestic energy consumption, profound changes have taken place in agricultural and rural energy consumption, resulting in the demand for new technology development in various sectors of source, network, and load in rural energy systems. Agricultural energy internet (AEI) has promoted the development of renewable energy and agricultural electrification in villages. The construction of the AEI is crucial for achieving the synergistic development of agriculture, energy, and environment. The basic theory and key technologies of AEI are investigated and the prospects for the direction of agricultural energy technology are conducted. The research investigation shows that the AEI framework proposed by China Agricultural University is of great significance for realizing agricultural electrification and reducing agricultural carbon emissions. The article describes in detail the key data and characteristics of agricultural electrification loads. Digital twin technology and virtual power plant technology will be crucial to the construction of advanced AEI.

This paper presents a framework for hybrid power production designed to promote rural electrification. This study aimed to model, simulate, and optimize a renewable power framework under the assumption of the operation of services in rural areas in “Kuakata,” located in Southern Bangladesh. This hybrid model integrates solar panels, wind turbines, micro hydropower systems, and diesel generators. The proposed hybrid model analyzes and optimizes the energy framework with the HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources) software. The cost of the framework is dissipated in the current market, and the sensitivity analysis is studied using the simulation from HOMER as a tool for sustainable development. The findings suggest that a renewable energy framework can replace conventional framework competence and offer a solution for rural electrification.

This paper explores scenarios for powering rural areas in Gaita Selassie with renewable energy plants, aiming to reduce system costs by optimizing component numbers to meet energy demands. Various scenarios, such as combining solar photovoltaic (PV) with pumped hydro-energy storage (PHES), utilizing wind energy with PHES, and integrating a hybrid system of PV, wind, and PHES, have been evaluated based on diverse criteria, encompassing financial aspects and reliability. To achieve the results, meta-heuristics such as the Multiobjective Gray wolf optimization algorithm (MOGWO) and Multiobjective Grasshopper optimization algorithm (MOGOA) were applied using MATLAB software. Moreover, optimal component sizing has been investigated utilizing real-time assessment data and meteorological data from Gaita Sillasie, Ethiopia. Metaheuristic optimization techniques were employed to pinpoint the most favorable loss of power supply probability (LPSP) with the least cost of energy (COE) and total life cycle cost (TLCC) for the hybrid system, all while meeting operational requirements in various scenarios. The Multi-Objective Grey Wolf Optimization (MOGWO) technique outperformed the Multi-Objective Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (MOGOA) in optimizing the problem, as suggested by the results. Furthermore, based on MOGWO findings, the hybrid solar PV-Wind-PHES system demonstrated the lowest COE (0.126€/kWh) and TLCC (€6,897,300), along with optimal satisfaction of the village's energy demand and LPSP value. In the PV-Wind-PHSS scenario, the TLCC and COE are 38%, 18%, 2%, and 1.5% lower than those for the Wind-PHS and PV-PHSS scenarios at LPSP 0%, according to MOGWO results. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into the design and implementation of sustainable energy solutions for remote communities, paving the way for enhanced energy access and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 1939 to 1941, the US Rural Electrification Administration conducted a nationwide educational campaign to share the benefits of electricity with rural Americans, known as the Electric Farm Equipment Show. A key part of the show was a series of appliance schools, which were run by female home economists and designed for a female audience. This article examines an appliance school organized for one REA women's club and the efforts of officials like REA chief home electrification specialist Clara O. Nale to navigate the disconnect between the official REA project, which assumed a gendered division of labor, and the real needs of the farm women they served. Through the Comanche County REA Women's Club, the article explores how REA administrators imagined that women would participate in its cooperative-led electrification efforts, women's engagement with and resistance to the REA's programming, and how technology adoption was ultimately mediated through women's priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study thoroughly investigates the potential of direct current (DC) microgrids to enhance electricity access in rural and remote areas of Indonesia that continue to face significant obstacles despite ongoing national electrification efforts. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this research comprehensively evaluates socio-economic and technical factors that influence the adoption of DC microgrids. The results indicate that DC microgrids offer significant potential for enhancing energy access, reliability, and sustainability, particularly when combined with renewable energy sources. This aligns with Indonesia's move towards renewable energy. Nevertheless, the analysis identifies significant obstacles, such as the substantial initial investment, the requirement for complete regulatory frameworks, and the technological complexities that need to be conquered. In conclusion, DC microgrids present a promising solution for rural electrification. However, the implementation requires a strategy that emphasizes strategic investments, policy innovation, and capacity-building initiatives. This research significantly contributes to the study of sustainable energy by evaluating the criticality of integrating policies and technology for implementing DC microgrids as a key factor in achieving sustainable energy access in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of modern agricultural production mode and domestic energy consumption, profound changes have taken place in agricultural and rural energy consumption, resulting in the demand for new technology development in various sectors of source, network, and load in rural energy systems. Agricultural energy internet (AEI) has promoted the development of renewable energy and agricultural electrification in villages. The construction of the AEI is crucial for achieving the synergistic development of agriculture, energy, and environment. The basic theory and key technologies of AEI are investigated and the prospects for the direction of agricultural energy technology are conducted. The research investigation shows that the AEI framework proposed by China Agricultural University is of great significance for realizing agricultural electrification and reducing agricultural carbon emissions. The article describes in detail the key data and characteristics of agricultural electrification loads. Digital twin technology and virtual power plant technology will be crucial to the construction of advanced AEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Off-grid electrification planning increasingly recognizes the importance of productive use of electricity (PUE) to promote community value creation and (financial) project sustainability. To ensure a sustainable and efficient integration in the community and energy system, PUE assets must be carefully evaluated to match both the community needs and the residential electricity demand patterns. We propose a novel methodology interlinking qualitative interviews, statistical analysis and energy system modeling to optimize decision making for PUE integration in off-grid energy systems in rural Madagascar by aligning relevant PUE effectively with anticipated residential electricity demand patterns based on socio-economic determinants of the community. We find that a possible contribution of the PUE to reducing the electricity costs depends significantly on three factors: (1) The residential electricity consumption patterns, which are influenced by the socio-economic composition of the community; (2) The degree of flexibility of (i) PUE assets and (ii) operational preferences of the PUE user; and (3) The capacity of community members to finance and operate PUE assets. Our study demonstrates that significant cost reductions for PUE-integrated off-grid energy systems can be achieved by applying our proposed methodology. When matching PUE and residential consumption patterns, the integration of PUE assets in residential community energy systems can reduce the financial risk for operators, provided the PUE enterprise operates reliably and sustainably. We highlight that the consideration of local value chains and co-creation approaches are essential to ensure the energy system is addressing the community's needs, creates value for the community, enhances the project's financial sustainability and is achieving the overall objectives of decentralized energy system planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the conditions under which major infrastructural investments generate electoral returns. It addresses when and how the constraints imposed by myopic voters under democracy can be overcome. We argue that sustained policy spillovers are critical to broadening the pool of beneficiaries and yielding significant returns to the incumbent in the medium to long run. We make this case by analyzing Luz para Todos (LPT)—a large-scale rural electrification scheme implemented in Brazil by the Workers' Party (PT). Leveraging the LPT's quasi-experimental allocation, we document its positive and persistent impact on the PT's vote support several years after the program started running. We then illustrate the mechanism of policy spillovers by showing the impact of the LPT on the provision of education in targeted areas. Our findings suggest that infrastructure policies are more likely to generate electoral returns when the policy provision entails spillover effects through other policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an advanced Load Frequency Contol (LFC) strategy, using a hybrid adaptive particle swarm-spiral dynamic optimization algorithm (HAPSSDOA). The optimization algorithms iteratively adjust the PID gains based on the evaluation of the cost function and eventually find the optimal values that minimize the cost function and result in a satisfactory frequency value of 50Hz. The P-I-D parameters for the APSO, SDA, and HAPSSDOA algorithms were 3.5112, 2.9691 and 1.1972; 2.3712, 2.8479 and 0.9827; 2.3519, 1.7989 and 0.8864 respectively. The system’s performance showed the rise time, settling time, percentage overshoot and ITAE of 0.28s, 2.33s, 42.10%, and 0.1076 for APSO; 0.324s, 3.67s, 38.4%, and 0.3590 for SDA; 0.36S, 2.2S, 33.5%, and 0.2430 for HAPSSDOA respectively. The LFC strategy using the hybrid HAPSSDOA achieved better performance, improved robustness, and the best response. The optimized PID controllers’ values brought more stability to the designed microgrid network, by ensuring that the frequency remained at 50Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new green energy‐harvesting technology, the electrification mechanism and output performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have become the research focuses and difficulties. Based on the basic principles of contact and damage mechanics, a five‐stage micro‐contact model is proposed on the interface of sliding TENGs friction subsurface. Experimental bench is built to complete the experimental validation and factors affecting the output performance of TENGs are experimentally investigated. In the results, it is shown that the contact form of the asperities on the surface of the friction subsurface determines the real contact area and the form of energy conversion, and the dynamical processes between the asperities are influenced by the velocity, load, and material, which further affect the elastic/plastic change of the friction surface and the directional transfer of contact electrons. Normal loading promotes the density and efficiency of electron transfer between the interfaces of the friction sub‐interfaces, but the electrical output performance of the system is no longer enhanced when the load is too high (≥10 N). The faster sliding speed is conducive to improving the output performance of the horizontal sliding TENG in a certain range (0.005–0.100 m s−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how the public might actively participate in renewable energy projects by studying the role of local and credentialed experts in the development of micro-hydro technology for self-supply (off-grid electrification) or commercialization (on-grid electrification) in Central Java, Indonesia. All of the data were gathered qualitatively, including semi-structured interviews with local experts and energy experts, as well as interviews with local entrepreneurs, private companies, government agencies, end users, and civil society groups. Other methods included document analysis, observations, and site visits. The research found that credentialed and local experts have distinct sets of expertise and roles that complement one another. This challenges the "deficit" model of public understanding of science, which often claims that energy projects fail due to a lack of policy-relevant knowledge. The expertise of locals, their financial situation, and their geographic location are all considered to be linked with the design of micro-hydro technology, which is most typically run-of-river. While micro-hydro design is often related to "decentralization," standardized expertise has emerged as a critical impediment to alternative energy commercialization. This article concludes that public participation, supported by decentralized policies, is required to drive future growth and maintain the long-term viability of micro-hydro technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, rural areas suffer from less infrastructure relative to urban areas. Political and development economists have mainly attributed this disparity in infrastructure distribution to governance. The literature has sufficiently discussed the role that rural-urban infrastructure inequality plays in development outcomes such as poverty. However, not much is known about the effect of the rural-urban infrastructure gap on the environment. To contribute to knowledge and policy discussions, we investigate the impact of rural-urban energy access (in)equality on environmental degradation and the role governance plays using data from 47 sub-Saharan African countries from 2000–2020. Evidence from the heteroskedasticity-based instrumental variable regression consistent with Driscoll and Kraay's estimation revealed that bridging rural-urban energy access inequality is associated with reduction in environmental degradation. We also documented that the direct effect of the governance-related variables used is mixed. The moderation and marginal effect estimates showed that improving governance quality conditions equality in rural-urban energy access to reduce environmental degradation. From a policy perspective, these findings suggest that the implementation of rural electrification policies supported by a good governance system would play a crucial role in mitigating environmental degradation in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries are facing many electricity crises such as low production, worst power outages, blackouts, and poor inadequate supplies. Most of their rural areas have no basic power infrastructure as it requires long transmission lines, which causes high installation, operation, maintenance costs and line losses issues. The people of these unconnected rural areas belong to low-income families and use kerosene oil, candles, small solar panels, and batteries to meet their basic electricity needs. As an alternative, renewable-based hybrid energy systems have enormous potential. It is also environmentally friendly and low-cost, sustainable, and promising solution to electrify rural off-grid areas. This research work focuses on the economic and optimal design of a renewable-based hybrid energy system for the rural off-grid area of Pakistan. HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources) software is used to perform techno-economic and environmental analysis. The optimization results show that the most economical and optimal configuration is PV/diesel generator with batteries having lower harmful emissions. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis is performed to refine the results which show that the most optimal system will remain sustainable if variations occur in the sensitivity variables in the future. Moreover, the results and findings of this study can help the government to make effective policies and planning to provide reliable and affordable electricity to the off-grid areas, to improve the electrification rate in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shift towards renewable energy is resulting in increased investment in energy infrastructure, affecting communities of all sizes worldwide. A study on Bugala Island in Lake Victoria, Uganda, explored how socioeconomic factors influence households' decision to adopt hybrid solar electricity. The study utilised a binary logistic regression analysis of cross-sectional research design to understand the significant socioeconomic factors influencing the adoption. The sex of the household head, education level, monthly income, tenure status, and wall and floor materials were the most significant factors for the adoption. However, results suggest that age, household size, marital status, and main occupation were not statistically significant factors in adopting hybrid solar electricity. Insights from these variables can enable policymakers to formulate more efficient and equitable policies geared towards fostering the widespread integration of clean energy solutions. It should be noted that the socioeconomic factors vary in context and location; solar energy systems should be tailored to the needs of each community rather than being implemented using a standardised approach.

Nigeria is the seventh most populous country in world being the highest in Africa. The country is blessed with vast natural resources and is one of the highest producers of oil in the world. However, the inadequate supply of electrical energy is a major setback in the nation's economic development. Thus, there is need for an urgent and immediate solution to address the electricity access situation in Nigeria. It is in view of this that we first present an overview of the electrical energy situation of Nigeria (especially in the rural areas). The benefits of rural electrification and it impacts are discussed to buttress the need for electrifying rural areas and an overview of the abundant renewable energy resources in Nigeria is presented. As a proposed solution to improve the electricity situation, the concept of a reuse solar photovoltaic system based on e-waste components and old materials is presented. The system comprises repurposed Power Supply Unit (PSU) from old desktop computers, old thermal car Lead-acid batteries, old solar panels and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units. The possibility of adopting this solution in Nigeria depends on the amount of e-wastes generated annually thus necessitating the need for an analysis to see the annual impact of this system on electricity access based on the amount of available e-waste. Using the huge amount of e-waste generated/received annually in Nigeria, the feasibility of our solution is assessed by estimating the possible number of households that could be electrified by the second life renewable energy systems we propose. Due to the lack of official data in this field, certain constraints and assumptions were defined for the purpose of this analysis which resulted in obtaining a range of results that showed the possible impacts of adopting the reuse system. The analysis showed the minimum and maximum impacts the reuse solution could have on electricity access in Nigeria, based on best and worst case scenario respectively. The results further showed that an average of 287,000 households can be electrified annually if this solution is adopted, causing 2.2 % increment in population with electricity access in a year (between 620 thousand and 4.1 million individuals). Thus, the result is an indication that it is possible to achieve immediate growth in electricity access based on renewable energy integration, frugal innovation and reuse/repurposing of e-waste materials. In addition, this extension of their lifespan reduces their ecological footprint. It is expected that the energy demands of the continuously growing population can be met by strict adherence to set targets including adoption of smart-grids, generation diversification and focusing on rural electrification.

The electricity demand is highly stochastic and unpredictable. This is due to the fact that it is significantly impacted by a number of factors, including the type of load, weather, time of day, seasonality, economic limitations, customers’ way of living, and other randomness factors. An accurate load model is one of the main inputs for the design of an economical and reliable renewable-based rural electrification system for rural communities and demand management systems. This paper presents a generic methodology for determining a rural community's energy consumption load profile, which is used to determine the most cost-effective size of renewable energy sources for rural electrification purposes. To determine the load profile parameters, such as the types of appliances used, their functioning times, functioning windows, and expected minimum and maximum cycle time, a field survey was conducted in four rural electrified Ethiopian villages. Since the survey findings will not fully explain the stochastic nature of the load profile, the load parameters are randomly generated, and a bottom-up approach is used to estimate the rural community's energy usage. In this study, household loads, public institution loads, business loads, and small industrial loads are the main consumer types taken into account. These loads are classified according to their energy usage as weekdays, weekends, and national and religious holidays. A MATLAB program is developed and implemented to obtain the load profiles of different customer groups. The results of this study are assessed in accordance with the multi-tier criterion and verified through the use of the well-known software HOMER Pro- and LoadProGen.

It is evident that out of the 1.3 billion people worldwide that lack access to electric energy are rural dwellers. Furthermore, the majority of them are living in rural areas of developing countries which are often remote, dispersed populated, and categorized by pitiable infrastructure and services. Given this, the rising contemplation concerning the target of worldwide access to energy has stressed the role of rural electrification and off-grid hybrid power generation system. To this effect, the present work focuses on the overview of rural electrification programs in Nigeria and offers a general framework. The Mini-grid Value Chain for the effective implementation of mini-grid projects was developed. Furthermore, to overcome the issue of affordability of cost of energy in rural areas of the country and to promote sustainability of the off-grid electrification projects, an Improved Local Electrification Committee Model (ILEC) was developed. The main aim of this is to guarantee the reliability of the power supply network to the off-grid rural areas and also to overcome the major demerit of the overall high initial capital cost that is associated with the establishment of mini-grid projects for off-grid rural electrification.

Electricity is one of the essential requirements for the economic development of a country. In Ethiopia, more than half of the total population does not have access to electric power. Micro-hydropower (MHP) is one of the most feasible renewable energy options for providing reliable electricity to rural areas. However, in low-income countries such as Ethiopia, the high price of a purpose-made turbine to generate electricity from MHP resources is difficult. This paper presents the feasibility study of a pump as a turbine (PAT) for MHP applications with and without impeller blade modification. The analysis was conducted in terms of initial investment cost, the net present value, payback periods, and the cost of energy. Decreasing blade thickness, blade tip rounding, adjusting blade inlet angle, and blade grooving, then comparing the result with PAT without modification and cross-flow turbine are the modification techniques considered in this research. Based on the projected system lifetime, the equivalent cost of power for the PAT and cross-flow turbines are 0.065 and 0.100 $/kWh respectively. The cross-flow turbine's payback period is 6.04 years, which is significantly longer than the PATs payback period of 3.42 years. From the entire study, it can be concluded that the MHP coupled with PAT provides a lower payback period and cheaper power production. Whereas, impeller blade modification has no significant advantage from the economic point of view. Generally, the impeller modification cost needs to be less than or equal to 25% of the initial cost of the PAT to use the less cost advantage of the PAT.