Case Study & Lessons Learned: Enhancing Microgrid Capacity utilization through Productive End Use Application
In India there are 4,000 microgrids serving the purpose of rural electrification. Most of the microgrids are operating at 50-60% of their rated capacity. To increase the utilization of microgrids, Customized Energy Solutions has been working with microgrid developers on deploying, field testing and promoting productive end use applications. One such intervention are decentralised groundnut decorticator units set up in the Gumla district of Jharkhand. The unit is totally powered by a microgrid and able to process 400-500kg of groundnut in 6 hours of operation, thereby consuming 8-10 units of electricity from the microgrid. Upon seeing the success of the project, local communities around the microgrids in Gumla region have been setting up the unit in there own capital. At present, there are 5 units set up in the span of 6 months, and demand for an additional 10 units is in the pipeline. This will increase the electricity uptake from microgrids to 15-20%, thereby enhancing the utilization of microgrids to 70-75% of their rated capacity. Such interventions are helping microgrid developers to generate extra income, thus contributing to the long-term financial sustainability of the microgrids. In addition, there is potential to create more than 20-25 jobs at the grassroots level through such interventions.
Speaker:
Nitin Zimaji Akhade
Executive Director, Energy Access and Livelihoods
Customized Energy Solutions India Private Limited
Nitin Akhade is working with the emerging technologies team at CES and providing consulting in market linkages and technology mapping for economic development of rural and unserved communities. Nitin has over 11 years of experience in the energy sector with a particular specialization in areas of energy access, developing sustainable business models and market linkages for enhancing the livelihoods of rural communities.
His research experience focuses in areas of renewable energy powered end use applications and appliances, formulation of standards and benchmarks for productive end use applications for BoP segments and clean cooking solutions for reducing emission hazards for women and children in the developing world.
He holds a dual master's degree in Nuclear Engineering from University Polytechnic Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain and Grenoble Institute of Technology, France; Executive Energy Management degree from Grenoble Ecole de Management, France; and a bachelor's in technology in Electrical Engineering from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Raigad, India. He had previously worked with Clean Energy Access Network (CLEAN) on managing the activities related to technology development and market linkages for decentralized renewable energy eco-systems in India. He also had a short stint with Lloyd's Register Consulting, Mumbai on safety assessment of nuclear power plants.
Executive Director, Energy Access and Livelihoods
Customized Energy Solutions India Private Limited
Nitin Akhade is working with the emerging technologies team at CES and providing consulting in market linkages and technology mapping for economic development of rural and unserved communities. Nitin has over 11 years of experience in the energy sector with a particular specialization in areas of energy access, developing sustainable business models and market linkages for enhancing the livelihoods of rural communities.
His research experience focuses in areas of renewable energy powered end use applications and appliances, formulation of standards and benchmarks for productive end use applications for BoP segments and clean cooking solutions for reducing emission hazards for women and children in the developing world.
He holds a dual master's degree in Nuclear Engineering from University Polytechnic Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain and Grenoble Institute of Technology, France; Executive Energy Management degree from Grenoble Ecole de Management, France; and a bachelor's in technology in Electrical Engineering from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Raigad, India. He had previously worked with Clean Energy Access Network (CLEAN) on managing the activities related to technology development and market linkages for decentralized renewable energy eco-systems in India. He also had a short stint with Lloyd's Register Consulting, Mumbai on safety assessment of nuclear power plants.