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9
Off- Grid Power Management
Abstract
There are many people who would benefit from having electricity but who
live too far from an electrical grid to access it. Recent developments can help
such people. Solar-generated electricity and battery storage are now available at a very reasonable cost for those who want to have an electrical system
in their home or business. The very simplest system of this type is a solar
lantern that can be set in the sun each morning to charge the battery, and then
used in the evening for lighting. Because of the low cost of solar-generated
electricity now, there is an active transition around the world away from fuel
oil or propane-powered generators and towards solar panels for generation
of electricity. Lighting, cooking, communication, and refrigeration are among
the most important reasons to have off-grid electricity. Storage batteries are
an important part of the off-grid system.
9.1 Introduction: Electricity for All
There are more than 1 billion people who do not have electricity as of 2018
(Puliti, 2018). One of the Sustainable Development Goals is to have affordable,
reliable, sustainable, modern energy for all people (IRENA, 2018). The World
Bank has committed $1.3 billion to off- grid programs, and solar- generated
electricity is one of the important technologies that is being advanced to
bring electricity to all homes.
Why is it important that people have electricity? Lighting is one of the most
basic needs that is included in this effort, although refrigeration and safe
cooking are also important basic energy needs that are very beneficial to families. Increasingly, communication (e.g. by cellular telephone) is another high
priority for many. All of these outcomes are enabled by access to energy. In
places where there is an effort to bring electricity to those who are some distance from the grid, there has been good progress simply by ensuring access
to supply chains and financing those communities (IRENA, 2018; Puliti, 2018).
A number of previous efforts for providing off- grid electrical service have
been based on the premise of having an electricity generator powered by an
85
9
Off- Grid Power Management
Abstract
There are many people who would benefit from having electricity but who
live too far from an electrical grid to access it. Recent developments can help
such people. Solar-generated electricity and battery storage are now available at a very reasonable cost for those who want to have an electrical system
in their home or business. The very simplest system of this type is a solar
lantern that can be set in the sun each morning to charge the battery, and then
used in the evening for lighting. Because of the low cost of solar-generated
electricity now, there is an active transition around the world away from fuel
oil or propane-powered generators and towards solar panels for generation
of electricity. Lighting, cooking, communication, and refrigeration are among
the most important reasons to have off-grid electricity. Storage batteries are
an important part of the off-grid system.
9.1 Introduction: Electricity for All
There are more than 1 billion people who do not have electricity as of 2018
(Puliti, 2018). One of the Sustainable Development Goals is to have affordable,
reliable, sustainable, modern energy for all people (IRENA, 2018). The World
Bank has committed $1.3 billion to off- grid programs, and solar- generated
electricity is one of the important technologies that is being advanced to
bring electricity to all homes.
Why is it important that people have electricity? Lighting is one of the most
basic needs that is included in this effort, although refrigeration and safe
cooking are also important basic energy needs that are very beneficial to families. Increasingly, communication (e.g. by cellular telephone) is another high
priority for many. All of these outcomes are enabled by access to energy. In
places where there is an effort to bring electricity to those who are some distance from the grid, there has been good progress simply by ensuring access
to supply chains and financing those communities (IRENA, 2018; Puliti, 2018).
A number of previous efforts for providing off- grid electrical service have
been based on the premise of having an electricity generator powered by an