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Electricity for all: The contribution of large-scale planning tools to the energy-access problem

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  • Ciller, Pedro
  • Lumbreras, Sara

Abstract

There is a huge need for investment for the electrification of rural areas in developing countries. Any effective approach to this enormous task requires strategic planning that combines diverse electrification modes: grid extension, mini-grids, and stand-alone systems. Advanced computer tools are necessary to support planners. This paper reviews the existing techniques, software tools, and approaches that can contribute to this job. We propose a comprehensive but compact mathematical formulation of rural electrification planning as an optimization problem. This general formulation establishes a common ground for a critical review of the different tools and solution methods and allows the identification of the primary research needs in this field.

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  • Ciller, Pedro & Lumbreras, Sara, 2020. "Electricity for all: The contribution of large-scale planning tools to the energy-access problem," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:120:y:2020:i:c:s1364032119308317
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.109624
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    Cited by:

    1. Pedro Ciller & Sara Lumbreras & Andrés González-García, 2021. "Network Cost Estimation for Mini-Grids in Large-Scale Rural Electrification Planning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, November.
    2. Elkadeem, M.R. & Younes, Ali & Sharshir, Swellam W. & Campana, Pietro Elia & Wang, Shaorong, 2021. "Sustainable siting and design optimization of hybrid renewable energy system: A geospatial multi-criteria analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    3. Juan Carlos Oviedo Cepeda & German Osma-Pinto & Robin Roche & Cesar Duarte & Javier Solano & Daniel Hissel, 2020. "Design of a Methodology to Evaluate the Impact of Demand-Side Management in the Planning of Isolated/Islanded Microgrids," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-24, July.
    4. Juanpera, M. & Ferrer-Martí, L. & Pastor, R., 2022. "Multi-stage optimization of rural electrification planning at regional level considering multiple criteria. Case study in Nigeria," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    5. Akbas, Beste & Kocaman, Ayse Selin & Nock, Destenie & Trotter, Philipp A., 2022. "Rural electrification: An overview of optimization methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Karsu, Özlem & Kocaman, Ayse Selin, 2021. "Towards the Sustainable Development Goals: A Bi-objective framework for electricity access," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    7. Sara Lumbreras & Lluis Oviedo & Hans-Ferdinand Angel, 2021. "The Missing Piece in Sustainability Indices: Accounting for the Human Factor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-11, October.
    8. Jordi Cravioto & Hideaki Ohgaki & Hang Seng Che & ChiaKwang Tan & Satoru Kobayashi & Hla Toe & Bun Long & Eth Oudaya & Nasrudin Abd Rahim & Hooman Farzeneh, 2020. "The Effects of Rural Electrification on Quality of Life: A Southeast Asian Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-28, May.
    9. Eduardo Sánchez-Jacob & Andrés González-García & Javier Mazorra & Pedro Ciller & Julio Lumbreras & José Ignacio Pérez-Arriaga, 2021. "Joint Optimal Planning of Electricity and Modern Energy Cooking Services Access in Nyagatare," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-24, July.
    10. Ortega-Arriaga, P. & Babacan, O. & Nelson, J. & Gambhir, A., 2021. "Grid versus off-grid electricity access options: A review on the economic and environmental impacts," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    11. Andrés González-García & Pedro Ciller & Stephen Lee & Rafael Palacios & Fernando de Cuadra García & José Ignacio Pérez-Arriaga, 2022. "A Rising Role for Decentralized Solar Minigrids in Integrated Rural Electrification Planning? Large-Scale, Least-Cost, and Customer-Wise Design of Grid and Off-Grid Supply Systems in Uganda," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-31, June.
    12. Ullah, Zia & Elkadeem, M.R. & Kotb, Kotb M. & Taha, Ibrahim B.M. & Wang, Shaorong, 2021. "Multi-criteria decision-making model for optimal planning of on/off grid hybrid solar, wind, hydro, biomass clean electricity supply," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 885-910.
    13. Balderrama, Sergio & Lombardi, Francesco & Stevanato, Nicolo & Peña, Gabriela & Colombo, Emanuela & Quoilin, Sylvain, 2021. "Surrogate models for rural energy planning: Application to Bolivian lowlands isolated communities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    14. Silvia Corigliano & Federico Rosato & Carla Ortiz Dominguez & Marco Merlo, 2021. "Clustering Techniques for Secondary Substations Siting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    15. Enrique Cabello-Vargas & Azucena Escobedo-Izquierdo & Arturo Morales-Acevedo, 2021. "Review on Rural Energy Access Policies," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(5), pages 157-171.
    16. Bertheau, Paul, 2020. "Supplying not electrified islands with 100% renewable energy based micro grids: A geospatial and techno-economic analysis for the Philippines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).

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