Designing Microgrids for Rural Communities: A Practitioner Focused Mini-Review

As developing countries ramp up efforts to secure adequate rural electrification, microgrids are growing in popularity. In order for energy service companies and utilities to achieve universal energy access by 2030, innovation in the microgrid sphere needs to span across three levels: technological innovation, business model innovation and lastly, systemic innovation. To make strides across all three levels, academic studies on microgrids need to align with field-proven programs. A vast majority of the energy access programs currently underway are in developing countries with limited access to the latest information and state-of-the-art technology. This paper serves as a link between scientific advancements and field-proven best-practices for designing microgrids in rural communities. The paper highlights four critical aspects of microgrid design: 1) the challenges faced by rural communities and energy service companies, 2) microgrid subsystems and their associated technical developments, 3) system sizing and demand forecasting, and 4) practitioner-focused recommendations and best-practices. The study concludes with a general way forward for rural microgrid design and development.