Integrated solar electrification and community empowerment in a burkina faso Village: A feasibility and design study

This paper examines the practicality and design of an off-grid solar mini-grid aimed at providing electricity to the rural community of Nienega-Mossi in Burkina Faso, which is currently experiencing significant energy poverty. This study combines spatial analysis through geographic information syste...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bertrand Sawadogo, Amel Benmouna, Mohamed Becherif, Shimaa barakat, Mohamed Samy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025017578
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Summary:This paper examines the practicality and design of an off-grid solar mini-grid aimed at providing electricity to the rural community of Nienega-Mossi in Burkina Faso, which is currently experiencing significant energy poverty. This study combines spatial analysis through geographic information systems to enhance network layout and utilizes comprehensive load profiling to understand household energy demand patterns. The evaluation of system sizing and performance was conducted using simulation tools, and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) was utilized to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) while adhering to reliability constraints. The optimized design, which includes photovoltaic generation, battery storage, and a rule-based energy management system, showed competitive LCOE and high reliability. The findings emphasize that solar mini-grids are both technically and economically feasible as scalable options for rural electrification. They hold the promise of improving sustainable energy access, fostering local economic growth, and bolstering community resilience in sub-Saharan Africa.
ISSN:2590-1230