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From Stand-Alone Electricity Systems
to Grid Connection
a Bottom-Up Approach
Intersolar 2013
Special Exhibit – Rural Electrification, June 19
Noara Kebir
Managing Director, MicroEnergy International
Swarm Electrification
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MicroEnergy International
Working at the intersection of
Microfinance and Renewable Energy
Current and recent projects:
• Peru
• Mexico
• Philippines
• Kyrgyzstan
• Bangladesh
Introduction to MEI
More than 30 employees:
• Consultants
• Associate Experts
• Research Assistants
MEI Team
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MEI Services
Offering a wide range of services
Scientific Research
Research Design &
Partnership Development
Academy
Trainings, (Continuing) Education, Industrial & Scientific Programs
Financial Services
SME and MFI Financing,
Impact Investment Solutions
Engineering
Product Design,
Evaluation & Optimization
Consulting
Policy & Business
Consulting, Project
Management
Microenergy Sector
MicroEnergy International
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Bangladesh
Dhaka
Sandwip Minigrid
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Bangladesh Germany
Population 160 Million 80 Million
Density 1,015
people/km²
234.58
people/km²
Households 32 Million 40 Million
GDP/capita USD
2,100(192)
USD 41,513
Grid
Coverage:
On Grid 42% of
population
(daily load
shedding)
100%
Off Grid 19 Million
households
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The Starting Point
Proliferation of SHS in Bangladesh
0,0
0,2
0,4
0,6
0,8
1,0
1,2
1,4
1,6
1,8
2,0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Mil
lio
n
so
ld
SH
S
May, 2013: 2,000,000 SHS sold
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Two separate concepts for rural electrification
SHS
• Serve only basic needs
• Productive use limited
• Excess generation dumped
MinigridMinigrid
• Unable to recover capital costs
• Capacity quite inflexible
• High risk for investors
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• Decentralized Generation
• Decentralized Storage
• DC Grids (220 V DC)
• SHS upgrades / extensions
Enabling Swarm
Current Developments in Bangladesh
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Swarm – 3 Phase Process
• Status-quo electrification
• Decentralized generation and storage
• Services basic need (=small loads
• Financing: End-user micro-finance
• Tech (upgrade needed): Intelligent
control _-units
Starting point – Phase 1: Upgrading SHS
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Swarm – 3 Phase Process
• Swarm of generation units
• Balancing of systems
• Electrification of new houses
• Enhances productive use
Phase 2: Microgrid
• Financing: Community-
based?
• New Tech: Distribution lines
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Key Aspects
• Bottom-up process starting from the status quo
• Step-by-step quality improvement
• Enhanced opportunities for productive use
• Multiple financing options
• Incorporates requirements from grid operator