Design and verification of smart and scalable DC microgrids for emerging regions

Roughly 1.3 billion people in developing countries still live without access to reliable electricity. As expanding access using current technologies will accelerate global climate change, there is a strong need for novel solutions that displace fossil fuels and are financially viable for developing regions. A novel DC microgrid solution that is geared at maximizing efficiency and reducing system installation cost is described in this paper. Relevant simulation and experimental results, as well as a proposal for undertaking field-testing of the technical and economic viability of the microgrid system are presented.