Mini-grid Builder

From energypedia

Introduction

Currently the mini-grid sector around the globe lacks a standardized approach towards the load assessment, sizing of generation capacity and financing aspects of the projects. This results in project developers, as well as non-government organisations and municipalities to lack a deep enough understanding to compare e.g. various offers from solar companies against each other and have a common understanding of the potential energy supply presented.[1]

Therefore the mini-grid builder aims to address these issues and allows interested parties to enter data from site surveys into a database and perform calculations on the energy demand, and thus the required generation capacity. Further the tool also includes financial aspects that allow to come up with an initial project budget, that allows decisions towards the next steps. All data on each project is stored in a secure database, that allows future review and changes to any project entered.[1]


Mini-grid Builder Tool

►Link to the tool: http://www.minigridbuilder.com/

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Who Can Use the Tool?

This tool is designed for engineers , project developers and investors willing to develop mini-grids and assists them in sizing and planning of projects. It can also be used by Financial and other stakeholders to assess the feasibility of mini-grid projects.


How to Use the Tool?

  • Register for an account
  • Fill in the load profile for your customers in the project areas. This section includes information like current energy sources of the customers, their ability and willingness to pay as well as the range of electrical appliances used
  • Fill in the financial information like investment costs, operating costs and investment factors
  • Donwload the final report

FAQs

For more questions about the tool, click here.

Further Information

Reference