Use of experimental test systems in the application of electric microgrid technology across the sub-Saharan Africa: A review

Abstract

Electric microgrid is counted with the emerging technologies recently identified as being required for revolutionizing Africa within the space of one decade. The place of innovative research and development on various components of microgrid systems is also found pivotal and indispensable to the envisioned massive deployment of the technology across the sub-Saharan region of the continent. It has, however, become a global practice to employ specially developed experimental microgrid test systems as dedicated research tools for establishing design criteria and evaluating operational performances of microgrids in efficient way. This study therefore presents a survey on the availability and deployment of microgrid test systems across the nations of the sub-Saharan Africa. Available literatures published on the concept, though very scanty and not readily accessible, are thoroughly reviewed and reported in this survey. It is found that while there are few instances of works done on development and application of on-the-site demonstration microgrid as experimental facilities, laboratory-based microgrid emulators as test systems does not have much popularity despite being comparatively cost effective in design and development. This discovery could influence researchers, utility providers, national governments, regional organizations, research funders, as well as other stakeholders across the region into embracing the deployment of microgrid test systems in order to enhance seamlessness in the adaptation of the technology to the African context for its efficient application across the African sub-Sahara.