With the PowerPath project, the proper operation of nano-grids mainly relies on the smart controller that was developed in cooperation between Nanoé, TWI and Technovative Solutions within the frame of the IMPHORAA project. This will enable speedy market penetration for a combined set of proven technologies – solar PV nano-grids, cooling, and water pumping – primarily in the Philippines and Madagascar, where they are eagerly needed by rural off-grid communities. The IMPHORAA project tackled the energy trilemma by implementing three trends, which are impacting the global energy sector at an unprecedented pace; decarbonisation, digitisation, and decentralisation.
The smart controller, below, is composed of sensors, a micro-controller, a memory card and a bidirectional user interface.
The presence of a memory card enables the collection of consumption data by end-users, which, once analysed, allows you to anticipate any likely change of fee for service. This first innovation enabled Nanoé to deploy more than 1,800 nanogrids in 5 years, with an average time of 2 weeks between the end-user’s agreement and the nanogrid installation, with an extraordinary installation time of only 2-days of work - including commuting time - which can be significant in rural areas on the island of Madagascar.
Now that a critical density of nanogrids have been deployed in dozens of Malagasy villages, the second step of the lateral electrification model can be launched. This second step is the clustering of several existing nanogrids to form a village-wide DC balancing microgrid that is able to deliver an energy service extended to more energy-intensive uses like motors or agro-processing machineries, thanks to energy sharing and capacity pooling between nanogrids that were previously operating autonomously.
