Technical design of Off-grid energy kiosks

Rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa are frequently afflicted by energy poverty; as it is typically cost-prohibitive to extend the electricity grid to these locations, off-grid energy kiosks provide a locally sourced alternative for the community. This paper describes the technical design, development and implementation of an energy kiosk in Chalokwa, located in southern Zambia. Predicted load profiles are estimated based on experience from previous projects and are refined for the specific requirements of the Chalokwa community. Computer simulations are performed using publicly available software to size the photovoltaic panels, system batteries, and electronic components in such a way that the kiosk may function reliably in a range of operating conditions. The energy kiosk was installed and commissioned in June of 2016, and was outfitted with a data logger which measures system voltages and temperatures; this makes it possible to close the design loop and validate the assumptions made in the design process. The process outlined in this paper is presented in such a way that it may be used as a template for the technical design of future energy kiosks.