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.
Keywords: Electricity access; Rural electrification; Electrification methodology; Energy technology; Planning model; Software tool
Resumen divulgativo: Este artículo es una introducción al problema de la electrificación rural que cubre no sólo el problema en sí mismo sino que también proporciona una formulación matemática homogeneizadora y revisa las principales herramientas disponibles, señalando los retos que se deben acometer en el futuro.
Índice de impacto JCR y cuartil WoS: 12.110 - Q1 (2019)
Referencia DOI:
10.1016/j.rser.2019.109624
Publicado en papel: Marzo 2020. Publicado on-line: Diciembre 2019.
Cita:
P. Ciller, S. Lumbreras. Electricity for all: The contribution of large-scale planning tools to the energy-access problem. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. vol. 120, no. 109624, pp. 1-16, Marzo 2020. [Online: Diciembre 2019]
