This book provides students and practicing engineers with a comprehensive guide to off-grid
electrification: from microgrids and energy kiosks to solar home systems and solar lanterns. As
the off-grid electrification industry grows universities are starting and expanding courses
and programs in humanitarian engineering and appropriate technology. However there is no
textbook that serves this growing market. This book fills that gap by providing a technical
foundation of off-grid electrical systems putting into context the technical aspects for
developing countries and discussing best practices by utilizing real-world data. Chapters
expertly integrate the technical aspects of off-grid systems with lessons learned from
industry-practitioners taking a pragmatic data-driven perspective. A variety of off-grid
systems and technologies are discussed including solar wind hydro generator sets biomass
systems battery storage and converters. Realistic examples case studies and practical
considerations from actual systems highlight the interaction of off-grid systems with the
economic environmental social and broader development aspects of rural electrification. Whole
chapters are dedicated to the operation and control of mini-grids load and resource estimation
and design of off-grid systems. Special topics focused on electricity access in developing
countries are included such as energy use in rural communities technical and economic
considerations of grid extension electricity theft metering and best practices devoted to
common problems. Each chapter is instructor friendly and contains illustrative examples and
problems that reinforce key concepts. Complex open-ended design problems throughout the book
challenge the reader to think critically and deeply. The book is appropriate for use in
advanced undergraduate and graduate courses related to electrical and energy engineering
humanitarian engineering and appropriate technology. Provides a technical foundation of
off-grid electrical systems Contextualizes the technical aspects for developing countries
Captures the current and state-of-the art in this rapidly developing field.
