By their very nature, engineers are expert planners. They are trained to take many factors into consideration as they design, construct, and maintain a broad range of complex systems. These systems and structures are used across the market’s wide variety of industries and applications. However, one variable that’s proven more difficult to account for over the years when it comes to electric grid resiliency has been the weather and its increasingly volatile nature.
According to a recent report by the American Meteorological Society, climate change is leading to more extreme weather around the world. It is increasing the risk of everything from violent storms to unprecedented heat waves, floods, droughts, and other natural disasters.
Resilient Electric Grids in the Face of Weather Events
The growing incidence and severity of weather events has had an especially significant impact on electric grids worldwide. A recent report from science and technology organization Climate Central confirms that the resultant frequency of weather-related power outages is rising.
“We’re going to require a more robust grid than was built previously,” said Jen Brady, a lead analyst for Climate Central.
Consider Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 hurricane, whose widespread storm surge knocked out power to 2.7 million customers in Florida— nearly 25% of the state’s residents— in September 2022. Another example is Storm Ciarán, whose 100 mph winds resulted in power outages for millions of residents across multiple countries in November 2023. Elsewhere, Typhoon Lan knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers throughout western Japan in August 2023. Moreover, over 2.1 million customers lost power following a powerful storm that hit Sao Paulo, Brazil in November 2023. More than 500,000 homes and businesses in southeastern Australia’s capital region lost power in February 2024. This was after a violent storm damaged a major power plant’s transmission network.
The fact is, many electric grid systems worldwide haven’t caught up to the climate reality we’re now experiencing globally. As a result, planning for unforeseen weather emergencies has become more essential. Taking steps to ensure the increased resiliency of electric grids is crucial for utilities and the communities they serve.
In response, electric utilities worldwide are engaging in a variety of proactive initiatives to “harden” their systems. According to Power Magazine, these measures include upgrades to the quality, capacity, and efficiency of transmission circuits and components. Plus, employment of tree-trimming and other vegetation management activities. Moreover, they are using artificial intelligence platforms to better predict the impact of forecasted storms. Finally, the installation of intelligent sensors and smart meters to help identify and restore power outages.
Starting From the Ground Up
Electric reliability and grid resiliency take on another meaning altogether for the estimated 750-800 million people around the world. This group, nearly 10% of the world’s population, currently has no access to electricity at all. The majority of the affected population live in sub-Saharan African countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Ethiopia. Here, and in other underdeveloped regions, the establishment of “minigrids” is the quickest and most cost-effective way to bring power to remote locations. These places lack large, central electric grids.
Distributing electricity generated by renewable sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage, hydropower, and diesel generators, minigrids are a solution. Due to their sustainable design and reliance on renewable power sources, The World Bank believes minigrids can provide electricity to up to 500 million people by 2030. Minigrids can also reduce the world’s carbon footprint.
The construction and activation of minigrids is already making positive inroads globally. For example, recently implemented hydro-powered minigrids have brought much-needed electricity to over 1.5 million people in Nepal. Elsewhere, a system of nearly two dozen minigrids distributes energy to over 10,000 rural residents of West Bengal, India. Additionally, thanks to US$150 million in funding from The World Bank, Kenya’s government recently announced plans to build 137 solar minigrids. These are designed to provide electricity to nearly 300,000 households in remote sectors of the nation.
Enabling Access
Minigrids hold great promise for providing access to electricity in undeveloped communities worldwide. This is especially true in Africa, where the use of minigrids could impact the greatest number of people most quickly.
IEEE encourages professionals to learn more about minigrids. This effort to adopt and accelerate their deployment in communities can offer significant benefits.
Through Minigrids in Africa, a four-course program from IEEE, learners are introduced to the distinct opportunities and challenges. These arise when deploying electric minigrids that provide reliable power to millions of people in Africa, where many currently have no access to any sources of electricity. Topics include the contextual, technological, regulatory, and policy considerations for minigrids in Africa, as well as their design and deployment, operation, and future on that continent.
This course program is ideal for everyone from minigrid engineers, project managers, developers, and entrepreneurs. National grid engineers, managers, and policy and regulatory professionals can also benefit.
Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn how to get access to this program for your organization.
If you’re interested in access for yourself, visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN).
Resources
Allard, Anthony. (18 August 2022). Preparing the Grid for an Above-Average Hurricane Season. Power Magazine.
Karlin, Sam. (9 October 2022). Hurricanes Ian and Ida Hammered Two States’ Electric Grids. Nola.com.
Deger, Bill. (5 November 2023). Storm Ciarán Turns Deadly in Northern Europe, as 100-mph Winds Knock Out Power For Millions. AccuWeather.
Hersher, Rebecca. (9 January 2023). Climate Change Makes Heat Waves, Storms and Droughts Worse, Climate Report Confirms. NPR.
Boadle, Anthony and Moreira, Camila. (6 November 2023). Hundreds of Thousands Still Without Power Days After Storm Hits Brazil’s Largest City. Reuters.
Proffer, Erica. (6 October 2022). A New Report Shows Weather-Related Power Outages ono the Rise. KVUE.
Haun, Andy. (12 April 2019). Micro or Mini: There’s a Grid Type for Every Energy Need. Microgrid Knowledge.
Wood, Elisa. (28 March 2020). What is a Microgrid? Microgrid Knowledge.
(25 June 2019). Mini Grids for Half a Billion People: Market Outlook and Handbook for Decision Makers. The World Bank.
The Africa Minigrids Program. United Nations Development Programme.
(27 February 2023). Solar Mini Grids Could Sustainably Power 380 Million People in Africa by 2030 – if Action is Taken Now. The World Bank.
Mwirigi, Cosmas. (14 March 2023). Kenya to Combat Rural Energy Access Gap With Over 130 solar Minigrids. PV Magazine.
With electricity powering every corner of life and work in modern society, the absence of reliable access to electricity can indelibly impact a community or country’s ability to function. It can also hinder their ability to conduct business and make the forward progress necessary for a positive and productive future.
The Need for Minigrids
Recent statistics confirm that an estimated 750-800 million people— some 9-10% of the world’s population— don’t have access to electricity. While progress has been made towards improving global access to electricity, the current number of people living without electricity is half of what it was 20 years ago. However, the impact of the pandemic along with rising food and fuel prices globally have driven an increase in the worldwide number of people living without electricity for the first time in more than a decade. This trend is especially concerning in sub-Saharan African countries. This is because over 550 million people already live without electricity. In such countries as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Ethiopia, population growth is outpacing electric connections.
These realities have placed more emphasis than ever on the need to expand access to reliable power in Africa. They have also led to concerted global efforts to establish minigrids in the continent’s most underdeveloped regions. Deemed the quickest and most cost-effective way to bring power to remote locations where no large, central electric grids exist, microgrid projects in undeveloped regions worldwide are bringing hope. They are helping vulnerable communities that might otherwise be relegated to a future of poverty.
What Are Minigrids?
There are currently three types of grid structures through which electricity is distributed to users:
“Macrogrids” are centralized electric grids designed to serve large populations. Present in modern industrial economies such as North America, Europe, and China, macrogrids manage electricity supply. They promote reliable energy generation and distribution to all customers.
“Microgrids” are local, self-sufficient energy systems that are designed to support a defined community of users. With their ability to either operate independently of a macrogrid or tap into it if necessary, microgrids help ensure greater resiliency, reliability, and power quality for users.
Optimal for remote or rural locations that have little or no access to a larger macrogrid, “minigrids” are smaller-scale microgrids. They are designed to distribute electricity generated by such renewable sources as solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage, hydropower, and diesel generators. Following a recent decline in the cost of minigrid construction and the subsequent kWh cost of the electricity they generate, combined with an increase in their quality and performance, the World Bank suggests that, with the right amount of investment, minigrids powered by all sources “have the potential to provide electricity to as many as 500 million people by 2030.” Because they’re powered by renewable sources, minigrids can also help reduce the world’s carbon footprint. This is achieved by potentially avoiding the emission of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
According to the United States Agency for International Development, examples of successful minigrid projects in underdeveloped nations around the world in the past decade include:
- The construction of hydro-powered minigrids in rural Nepal that currently provide electricity to over 1.5 million residents,
- A collection of 23 solar-powered minigrids successfully distributing energy to 10,000 rural residents within remote, swampy communities in West Bengal, India, and
- A hydro-powered minigrid bringing much-needed electricity to both local residents as well as The Mufindi Tea and Coffee Company factory in rural Tanzania.
Electrifying Potential
The Africa Minigrids Program (AMP) is one of several organizations currently working to promote global private and public investment in solar battery-powered minigrids throughout 21 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the organization aims to enhance quality of life. It also works to support socio-economic development for hundreds of millions of individuals for generations to come.
“While Africa remains the least electrified continent, it also has the biggest potential for solar minigrid deployment,” confirmed Gabriela Elizondo Azuela, Manager of the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). This program forecasts that solar-powered minigrids alone could power 380 million people in Africa by 2030 if properly supported and funded.
Help Achieve a Balance of Power With IEEE
Minigrids hold great promise for providing access to electricity in undeveloped countries and communities worldwide, especially in Africa. In this region, the use of minigrids could impact the greatest number of people most quickly.
Minigrids in Africa, a four-course program from IEEE, introduces learners to the distinct opportunities and challenges of deploying electric minigrids. These minigrids could provide reliable power to millions of people in Africa, where many currently have no access to electricity. Topics covered include the contextual, technological, regulatory, and policy considerations for minigrids in Africa. Additionally, their design and deployment, operation, and future on the continent are discussed. This course program is ideal for everyone from minigrid engineers, minigrid project managers, and minigrid developers and entrepreneurs to national grid engineers/managers and policy and regulatory professionals.
Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn how to get access to this program for your organization.
Interested in access for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN).
Resources
Cozzi, Laura, Wetzel, Daniel, Tonolo, Gianluca, and Hyppolite II, Jacob. (3 November 2022). For the First Time in Decades, the Number of People Without Access to Electricity is Set to Increase in 2022. International Energy Agency.
Ritchie, Hannah. (30 November 2021). The Number of People Without Electricity More than Halved Over the Last 20 Years. Our World in Data.
Haun, Andy. (12 April 2019). Micro or Mini: There’s a Grid Type for Every Energy Need. Microgrid Knowledge.
Wood, Elisa. (28 March 2020). What is a Microgrid? Microgrid Knowledge.
(25 June 2019). Mini Grids for Half a Billion People: Market Outlook and Handbook for Decision Makers. The World Bank.
The Africa Minigrids Program. United Nations Development Programme.
(27 February 2023). Solar Mini Grids Could Sustainably Power 380 Million People in Africa by 2030 – if Action is Taken Now. The World Bank.