1. Green Village Electricity Project™
Building Efficient, Sustainable & Bankable Mini-Grids
An Initiative of GVE Projects Limited RC

2. Definition of a Mini-Grid
Small to medium sized power sources supplying electricity to domestic, productive and public users via a local distribution network (mostly to a remotely located community)
Not connected to any national electricity grid and therefore operated as “isolated mini-grids” in island mode
In some cases, “interconnected mini-grids” can be operated with a (part time) connection to a larger transmission / distribution grid
Different energy resources and power plants (diesel, hydro, biomass, solar, wind, hybrid), mostly AC coupled low voltage system with a centralized production and a storage system
Renewable energy sources have become the most economical viable power source for mini-grids in most places, increasingly replacing diesel gensets or reducing diesel fuel consumption

3. Rural Electrification

4. Guiding Factors for Project Development
Reliability, durability and efficiency
Affordability (cheaper than whatever source the community is using)
Acceptability
Sustainability

5. Important Factors for Project Development
Village selection criteria
Village awareness creation campaigns
Energy resource assessment
Demand assessment in village selected
Community Ownership & Exclusivity

6. Important Factors for Site Selection
The distance from national grid
Plans of national grid extension to that community by the authorities
The topography of the area
Demographic description of the areas
Important Factors for Site Selection

7. Mini-Grid User Categories

8. Power Generation System Design
The mini-grid system can be a DC or an AC coupled power system. Simulations with the mini-grid design software HOMER show that with the size selected and the long term perspective of the investors taken, a solar power system with battery storage combined to a diesel generator produces the lowest electricity generation cost.

9. Source: GVE Angwan Rina Mini- Grid Site, Plateau State Nigeria
Distribution Network Design
Source: GVE Angwan Rina Mini- Grid Site, Plateau State Nigeria

10. Metering & Billing Specially Designed for Mini-Grids in Rural Areas
Highly Secure with Tamper Proofing technology & Weather Protection (IP54)
Supports 2-Way Communication for Remote Monitoring & Control
Multiple Vending Options
1-Way Meter Box
4-Way Meter Box

11. Mini-Grid Operations Models
PUBLIC MODELS
•Fully subsidized and publicly managed mini-grids have proven widely unsuccessful
COMMUNITY MODELS
•Cooperative approaches have proven to work if the cooperative is structured like a private sector company including ownership models
PRIVATE MODELS
•If the profit of the private company is linked to the operational success of the mini-grid, the power supply becomes sustainable

12. Village selection criteria
The distance from national grid
Plans of national grid extension to that community by the authorities
The topography of the area
Demographic description of the areas
Settlement pattern (linear or cluster )

13. Critical Operations Success Factors
The balance between energy cost and sustainability
Energy use prioritizing
Effective Customer Relations
Demand Optimization
Continuous Stakeholder Engagement
Effective Cost & Revenue Optimization
Critical Operations Success Factors

14. Twitter: @GreenVillageEle
Thank you!!!