@article{Beath:2023:10.1016/j.rser.2022.113142,
author = {Beath, H and Alonso, JB and Mori, R and Gambhir, A and Nelson, J and Sandwell, P},
doi = {10.1016/j.rser.2022.113142},
journal = {Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews},
title = {Maximising the benefits of renewable energy infrastructure in displacement settings: optimising the operation of a solar-hybrid mini-grid for institutional and business users in Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.113142},
volume = {176},
year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - Humanitarian organisations typically rely on expensive, polluting diesel generators to provide power for services in refugee camps, whilst camp residents often have no access to electricity. Integrating solar and battery storage capacity into existing diesel-based systems can provide significant cost and emissions savings and offer an opportunity to provide power to displaced communities. By analysing monitored demand data and using computational energy system modelling, we assess the savings made possible by the integration of solar (18.4 kWp) and battery (78 kWh) capacity into the existing diesel-powered mini-grid in Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda. We find that the renewables infrastructure reduces fuel expenditure by $41,500 and emissions by 44 tCO2eq (both 74%) over five years under the generator’s current operational strategy. An alternative strategy, with deeper battery cycling, unlocks further savings of $4100 and 12.4 tCO2eq, using 33% of battery lifetime versus 15% under the original strategy. This reduces the cost of electricity by 33% versus diesel generation alone, whilst more aggressive cycling strategies could prove economical if moderate battery price decreases are realised. Extending the system to businesses in the camp marketplace can completely offset the system fuel costs if the mini-grid company charges customers the same tariff as the one it uses in the host community, but not the national grid tariff. Humanitarian organisations and the private sector should explore opportunities to integrate renewables into existing diesel-based infrastructure, and optimise its performance once installed, to reduce costs and emissions and provide meaningful livelihood opportunities to displaced communities.
AU  - Beath,H
AU  - Alonso,JB
AU  - Mori,R
AU  - Gambhir,A
AU  - Nelson,J
AU  - Sandwell,P
DO  - 10.1016/j.rser.2022.113142
PY  - 2023///
SN  - 1364-0321
TI  - Maximising the benefits of renewable energy infrastructure in displacement settings: optimising the operation of a solar-hybrid mini-grid for institutional and business users in Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda
T2  - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.113142
UR  - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000944325600001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.113142
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/106909
VL  - 176
ER  - 

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