Research and Capacity Building

The Energy and Climate Change Division / Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG, www.energy.soton.ac.uk) undertakes research and development in many fields of energy covering all renewables and energy efficiency. The following areas are related to the activities in rural electrification and development. 

Optimised solar home systems (SHS)

Research and development to combine generation and demand side optimisation leading to a robust and economically viable SHS solution. We have developed our laboratory capacities in testing PV panels, batteries, charge controller. Besides, we support capacity building of our international partners in East Africa and South/ South-East Asia in testing and productive uses of SHS.

 Off-grid DC appliances testing

Quality of off-grid DC appliances has been a major concern in many developing countries. We have developed our capacities in laboratory based DC appliances (refrigerator, television, LED light bulbs, cooling fan, batteries etc.) testing by simulating real field conditions. This helps us to identify and recommend quality appliance for SHS and for DC mini grid.

 AC/ DC mini grids

Efficient energy services solution through mini grids

  • Appropriate system design of AC mini grids to support electricity access.
  • Unlocking the promise of high efficiency and low maintenance DC mini grids for electricity access.
  • Spatial planning for mini grids.

Capacity building

Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG) supports capacity building in ‘research and development’ in off-grid energy access and energy efficiency both in rural and urban environment. SERG has the expertise to produce course module/ materials and design training programme to help professionals in energy sector in the following areas:

  • Mini grids system design and performance analysis.
  • Energy efficiency in buildings.
  • Country-wide and regional geospatial analysis supporting energy studies (resource mapping), data analysis at regional, city and village scales (Application of R Statistics, GIS, EnergyPlus, HOMER etc.).

posted on: 19.07.2018 | by: Maj Alam | categorie(s): Research projects

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