Sebastian Groh

Swarm electrification - Suggesting a paradigm change through building microgrids bottom-up

This paper outlines a bottom-up concept for microgrids. A case study for Bangladesh illustrates the potential for building on the existing infrastructure of solar home systems and underlines the strength of the approach: it aims at economic and infrastructure development created from the communities themselves. Individual stand-alone energy systems are linked together to form a microgrid that can expand towards and eventually interconnect with national or regional grids. This approach can be likened to the concept of swarm intelligence, where each individual node brings independent input to create a conglomerate of value even greater than the sum of its parts.

Swarm Electrification: Investigating a Paradigm Shift Through the Building of Microgrids Bottom-up

The study investigates a bottom-up concept for microgrids. A financial analysis is performed through a business model approach to test for viability when replacing a researched energy expenditure baseline in Bangladesh. A case study of Bangladesh illustrates the potential for building on the existing infrastructure base of solar home systems. Opportunities are identified to improve access to reliable energy through a microgrid approach that aims at community-driven economic and infrastructure development. Network effects are generated through the inclusion of localized economies with strong producer-consumer linkages embedded within larger systems of trade and exchange. The analyzed approach involves the linkage of individual stand-alone energy systems to form a microgrid that can eventually interconnect with national or regional grids. The approach is linked to the concept of swarm intelligence, where each individual node brings independent input to create a conglomerate of value greater than the sum of its parts.

The role of microfinance in energy access: changing roles, changing paradigms, and future potential

When investigating the drivers and goals of both financial and energy inclusion, it becomes apparent that the two are mutually reinforcing concepts, which bear a high synergy potential. Nonetheless...

Value Chain Thinking and Energy Projects—A Problem-Centered Value Chain Approach to Energy Based Upgrading of Rice Farmers in the Philippines

This paper conceptualizes the link between value chain theory and productive use (PU) focused energy projects based on microfinance mechanisms. Its main argument is that all PU of energy projects focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) development can be interpreted as value chain upgrading attempts. It is argued that successful upgrading greatly depends on the MSMEs embeddedness in specific market contexts. For that reason, the context must be assessed to derive energy based intervention points that cause additional income for MSMEs and consequently development. Based on this rationale, a problem-centred value chain approach is proposed. A case study of the Philippine rice market illustrates the usability of the method by outlining some risks and opportunities the rice value chain context poses to energy based upgrading attempts of rice farmers.

The Case for Solar-Diesel Hybrid Minigrids in Bangladesh: Design Considerations

Bangladesh is experiencing the most successful solar home system based rural electrification program in the world. Yet the present scheme has revealed several shortcomings including the lack of a clear link to productive commercial activities as well as of a deeper energy inclusion. With sparsely distributed loads and limited energy demand, grid extension has not been found to be economically feasible as an electrification approach for the remote areas in Bangladesh. As it is the common tendency of the rural people to live in household clusters of high density, minigrid approaches have recently been identified as an attractive alternative to the prevalent stand-alone scheme. There is a perceived need for a wider understanding of the roles and applications of minigrids as tools towards achieving greater energy and resource efficiency. At the same time, there is a paucity of publications which explore the potential contributions of minigrids and their potential contribution with respect to resource efficiency. In order to address this perceived need, this paper describes approaches and methods used in implementing diesel-based minigrids on the one hand, and the contribution of renewables on the other. This paper highlights design considerations for developing solar-diesel hybrid minigrids in off grid rural areas of Bangladesh.

Taking a Micro-Perspective on the Global Challenge of Climate Change: The “Microenergy Systems” Research Focus at the Technische Universität Berlin

In the past, fuel-based economies have led the way in economic growth, resulting in emissions that are now understood to cause climate change, having a major impact on countries of the Global South. It has become clear that effective climate change mitigation and adaptation not only require restrictions on energy consumption in the industrialized world, but also a decoupling of economic development from greenhouse gas emissions in the South. But can developing countries take a less carbon-intensive path, even though its outcome is highly uncertain? In many scenarios for a sustainable future energy supply, decentralized solutions play a crucial role. Such solutions are often based on renewable energies and can help to avoid lock-in effects based on fuel intensive energy systems. However, they are characterized by various aspects that conventional research paradigms have given little attention to, until now. These research challenges are reflected in the concept of Microenergy Systems, which serves as a theoretical basis for the Research Focus and Ph.D. program at the Technische Universitat in Berlin. It brings together academics from various disciplines to take a micro-perspective on the idea of decentralized energy supply. This chapter introduces and discusses the concept of Microenergy Systems. It summarizes the development of the relatively young research group—the experiences of engineers, social and political scientists, economists and planners partaking in joint research and education in the field of decentralized sustainable energy solutions. Furthermore it highlights the attempt to establish an international scientific community concerned with Microenergy Systems amongst academics who are scattered throughout different institutions and numerous universities worldwide.