System Sizing of PV-Powered DC Microgrids for Informal Settlements in South Africa
Development of a Design Framework Accelerating Electrification Efforts
E. Shibata (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
P. Manganiello – Mentor (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
Z. Qin – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - DC systems, Energy conversion & Storage)
H. Ziar – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
J.E. Echeverry – Graduation committee member (DC Opportunities R&D)
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Abstract
The motivation of this study stems from the reality that 2.2 million households in South Africa remain unelectrified, with the majority residing in informal settlements—communities that are remnants of the apartheid era, designed to enforce racially segregated living. While existing off-grid solutions provide basic electricity access to these households, they fail to meet the growing demand for higher levels of electricity access that local residents desire and can afford. This project aims to address this gap between the limited supply capacity of current off-grid solutions and the enhanced electricity services that communities are eager to receive.
Through site visits and consultations with local developers, specific design considerations and unique challenges were identified. These efforts revealed the limitations of existing open-source design tools, which do not comprehensively address the entire system’s design requirements for the proposed solution of a PV-powered DC microgrid. Consequently, a new framework was developed, integrating open-source tools and custom Python scripts based on established methodologies.
The comprehensive design framework was applied to the informal settlements of Oudtshoorn and Daveyton, demonstrating its ability to generate feasible, scalable, and adaptable microgrid designs. Overall, this project provides a solid foundation for advancing electrification efforts in underserved communities.