Modelling and management of smart microgrid for rural electrification in sub-saharan Africa: The case of Nigeria

Access to electricity is still a challenge in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa; in Nigeria, over 70% of rural dwellers lack access to electricity. This paper examines the potential of a smart microgrid for off-grid rural electrification in Nigeria, combining design thinking and model-based design methodology to select a suitable microgrid configuration (solar PV, battery storage, and a diesel generator) and develop a smart microgrid model in Simulink, validated using demand data from 10 rural Nigerian communities. Combining the proposed system with energy-efficient LED light bulbs reduces peak electricity demand of the case-study communities by 42 to 76%, and gives the system a 56 to 81% lower net present cost than a system using a diesel generator alone with incandescent bulbs, making the proposed smart microgrid more suitable for off-grid rural electrification in Nigeria than diesel generators currently in use.