Microgrids Become an Important Asset among Developments to Increase Electricity Availability in African Communities

Featuring decentralized power distribution, Microgrids can shape an intuitive backbone of renewable energy projects throughout the African continent.

An increasing number of renewable energy developments are drawing on the benefits of microgrids for their electricity needs. Since providing large-scale renewable energy depends on a combination of technologies to be sustainable (from wind, solar, biomass, and more), smart microgrids tie them together effectively to ensure maximum benefits.

Control systems such as distribution supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), building management, and demand response are all parts of an intelligent microgrid network. With automated monitoring and controls, power system supply and demand can be optimized and balanced in real time and faults can be quickly detected, isolated and repaired. Advanced controls allow systems to operate based on performance metrics such as economics, carbon footprint or reliability.

Among other reasons, microgrids have therefore gained support from banks and developers as a way to bring power to the 620 million people across Africa that lack access to electricity. They’re demonstrating a way to bring energy to the poorest areas without lifting pollution. Institutions including the African Development Bank are supporting them as a way to balance goals on economic growth and global warming, promising the industry will expand beyond a few pilot projects.

Team Gemini follows a similar approach to structuring energy procurement within its projects—where applicable, a microgrid system will be designed and deployed to make communities energy-independent. Control and monitoring systems (such as from ABB) are used to keep close watch on every component and maximize performance and uptime. Energy efficiencies will be thoroughly designed and implemented, and include generation of electricity, thermal energy, water treatment and recycling, and more. This is achieved through components like Combined Heat and Power Units (2G ENERGY), Membrane Bioreactors (A3-USA), and Anaerobic Digesters (enCO₂).

To learn more about just some of Team Gemini’s technologies that enable fully renewable communities, visit http://teamgemini.us/technologies/. And subscribe to our RSS feed or follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay in the loop about future updates.

For the original article on microgrid developments in Africa, you can check out this link.