Solar Mini-Grid Planning Considerations for Future Central Grid Integration: A Case for Rwanda

Even though off-grid systems face the risk of grid encroachment, connecting with the central grid may be possible at some point in an off-grid project's lifetime. This paper aims to discern and describe multiple analysis use cases that power system planners and operators may use to include off-grid systems in planning and operational time frames, demonstrating the exploitation of techno-economic potentials for different scenarios. The economic analysis will compare business models for a typical off-grid system and a planned off-grid system for grid arrival. The technical analysis will explore mini-grid interconnection methods and their impact on grid stability.