Off-Grid Electrical Systems in Developing Countries

This book provides students and practicing engineers with a comprehensive guide to off-grid electrification, from mini-grids, micro-grids, and energy kiosks to solar home systems and solar lanterns. Readers will gain a solid technical understanding of off-grid electrical systems, learn best practices, and be prepared to engage with the complex and sensitive nature of electrification projects.
This fully updated edition boasts over 100 pages of new content. It expertly covers important off-grid technologies, including solar, wind, hydro, generator sets, biomass systems, lead-acid and lithium-ion battery storage, and converters. Realistic examples and discussion highlight the interaction of off-grid systems with the economic, environmental, social, and broader development aspects of rural electrification. The operation and control, load and resource estimation, and design of off-grid systems are thoroughly covered. The book discusses other relevant issues, including energy justice, community engagement, project monitoring and evaluation, and more.
This instructor-friendly edition has been restructured and reorganized into shorter chapters. Each chapter contains learning outcomes, illustrative examples, and problems that reinforce key concepts. Over 300 examples and end-of-chapter problems, along with more than 100 figures, have been added. The book's complex, open-ended design problems challenge the reader to think critically and deeply. The book is appropriate for advanced undergraduate and graduate electrical and energy engineering, humanitarian engineering, and related technology courses.

Henry Louie, Ph.D., is the Father Francis Wood, S.J. Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seattle University. Dr. Louie is a teacher, researcher, and practitioner of electricity access in rural, underserved off-grid communities. He has taught courses on electricity access at Copperbelt University (Zambia) under the prestigious Fulbright Scholar program and at Navajo Technical University (Navajo Nation). Dr. Louie co-founded KiloWatts for Humanity, a non-profit organization providing off-grid electricity access in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Louie is the recipient of numerous awards related to his pioneering work at the intersection of electricity access and engineering education including the IEEE PES Peter W. Sauer Outstanding Power Engineering Undergraduate Educator Award, Region 6 Outstanding IEEE Member who Promoted Global Humanitarian Projects Award, Kettering University Civic Achievement Award, and the Sigma Chi Mark V. Anderson Character-in-Action Leadership Award.
Dr. Louie previously served on the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Governing Board, IEEE Smart Village Steering Committee, and as Chair of the IEEE PES/IAS Power Africa Steering Committee. He holds degrees from Kettering University (B.S.E.E.), University of Illinois (M.S.), and the University of Washington (Ph.D.).