Sunsafe II
Project disclaimer
Description
The 2019 Kenyan census by the [Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported that][0] 12.04 million households (50.4%) use grid electricity for lighting and 19.3% use solar hence approximately 30.3% of households are still unconnected. The census placed the grid electricity connection rate at 26% connection for rural areas and 88.4% for urban areas. Additionally, at least 6.6 per cent of the population uses a tin lamp and 2.8 percent rely on firewood for lighting. Electricity reliability on the grid [remains low at 30%][1], with the census reporting that 8.4 million of the 12.04 million households do not have reliable electricity. Urban areas, which have a higher connection rate, also experience blackouts at least one day a month for [scheduled maintenance by the grid provider][2]. Therefore, even areas considered as having reliable electricity might need backup systems. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can electrify unconnected households and provide backup systems if electricity reliability is an issue. Given unmet electricity needs above, there is a large market for solar PV systems in Kenya, even as the grid expands. These systems fall into two categories: component-based solar systems (CBSS) or plug-and-play systems (PPS). Plug-and-play systems are pre-assembled solar home systems (SHS), while CBS are sold as separate components, which are assembled on-site by technicians into SHS. CBSS are often preferred by consumers due to their load flexibility (i.e. a system is designed for loads the consumer has and/or wants to power) which allows for [higher tiers of electricity access][3] (increased capacity, reliability), more easily than PPS. Unfortunately, [limited technical knowledge][4] about the design and installation of solar PV, can render CBSS unreliable or unsafe. This lack of knowledge can result in sub-optimally sized systems or systems sold without key components of system safety and functionality, like charge controllers. This project addresses the identified knowledge gap by developing a system running on a smartphone that digitizes selection of CBSS components thus simplifies system sizing in component-based solar photovoltaic systems. It targets electrical retailers and technicians to ensure that the systems they put together for customers are correctly sized and configured, without requiring sizing knowledge. [0]: https://www.knbs.or.ke/?wpdmpro=2019-kenya-population-and-housing-census-volume-iv-distribution-of-population-by-socio-economic-characteristics [1]: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/31333/9781464813610.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y [2]: https://www.kplc.co.ke/category/view/50/planned-power-interruptions [3]: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/24368/Beyond0connect0d000technical0report.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y [4]: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629621001948
Objectives
This activity is funded under the Energy Catalyst Programme. The Energy Catalyst programme supports innovative businesses and organisations to find new commercial solutions that help provide clean, affordable and secure energy in sub-Saharan Africa, South and South East Asia. It will support highly innovative, market-focused energy solutions in any technology or sector. They must be targeted at people, public services and local enterprises who are unable to afford or access existing solutions, or who lack the the time or expertise to successfully use those solutions. Grant funding will be provided to support businesses to undertake research, development and innovation activity on innovative products or services, business models and processes. Incubation support will also be provided to help some of the businesses to take their innovations to market faster, as well as further support to enable access to investors and customers and maximise the potential created.
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