ENGINEER Research Project – Development, analysis and documentation of a mini-grid pilot project in Eastern Cape, South Africa
A lack of electrification limits economic development. The ENGINEER project has built a self-contained power grid in a South African village with the broader aim of providing greater economic opportunities and improved living conditions to off-grid regions. Residents are provided with solar power by a so-called hybrid mini-grid, and the concept can be transferred to other regions.
Research project ENGINEER
Duration
January 2017 until December 2018
Funded by
Bund-Länder-Programm des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ); gefördert durch das Niedersächsische Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie und Klimaschutz
Upper Blinkwater lies well off the beaten track in a mountainous region of the South African Eastern Cape province. There are no plans to connect the village to the public grid in the foreseeable future. The ENGINEER pilot project has shown that this type of community can nevertheless be provided with a sustainable source of electricity. This project came about thanks to the partnership between Eastern Cape and the German state of Lower Saxony. It seeks to demonstrate that even in the absence of a comprehensive power grid, communities can be provided with electricity by relying predominantly on renewable energies. Thanks to the Bund-Länder-Programm, a local grid can provide power to up to 67 homes, a school and a church. With support from Lower Saxony and GIZ, the German development agency, the Institute of Networked Energy Systems contributes to this project by conducting research on the technical and sociocultural conditions related to the electrification of off-grid regions.
A photovoltaics system with a 75 kW nominal capacity was planned as electricity supply for this particular village. Power is in particularly high demand during evening hours, so peak hours of production and consumption do not overlap. This is overcome by means of a lead acid battery with a capacity of 370 kilowatt-hours. A supporting diesel generator will be installed to prevent power outages and handle periods of peak demand.
For the research project "ENGINEER" (2017-2018), a PV-based "mini grid" was implemented in a rural community in South Africa. It was shown that decentralised energy supply is a possible way forward for rural comunities that have not been connected to a national grid. The project was financed by the Bund-Länder-Programm des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ); gefördert durch das Niedersächsische Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie und Klimaschutz.
Mini grid project at Upper Blinkwater, Eastern Cape, SA
Your consent to the storage of data ('cookies') is required for the playback of this video on Quickchannel.com. You can view and change your current data storage settings at any time under privacy.
Mini grid project at Upper Blinkwater, Eastern Cape, SA
For the research project "ENGINEER" (2017-2018), a PV-based "mini grid" was implemented in a rural community in South Africa. It was shown that decentralised energy supply is a possible way forward for rural comunities that have not been connected to a national grid. The project was financed by the Bund-Länder-Programm des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ); gefördert durch das Niedersächsische Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie und Klimaschutz.
Credit:
GIZ/BMZ
Scientists were first tasked with calculating the expected power consumption so that the local grid could be built to handle the demand. To this end, the use of energy sources such as candles, paraffin, gas and batteries was analysed. Shifts in consumption as a result of electrification were carefully documented to aid in the planning of future efforts to provide electricity to other off-grid regions.
These so-called mini-grids aim to create better opportunities for development in off-grid regions and slow migration away from rural areas. The Upper Blinkwater grid was undertaken as a pilot project – more than 90 percent of the village’s residents are poor. With a reliable source of electricity, the village’s residents can now extend local value added chains and interact economically with neighbouring communities on a much sounder footing.
Departments, research groups and challenges related to project ENGINEER:
