Optimizing Island Energy Systems: Modeling Hydrogen Integration in the Asia-Pacific

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Recording of Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 18:15 .

New Open-Source Tool Enhances Off-Grid Energy Projects with Hydrogen Integration in Nigeria and Thailand

The session focused on the digitalization of off-grid projects, highlighting innovative solutions to expand these initiatives. Moderated by Dr. Philipp Blechinger from the Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH, it emphasized their research unit's dedication to off-grid systems and collaboration with development agencies for sustainable energy implementation. A key project discussed involved integrating renewable energy and hydrogen in Pacific islands like Fiji and Tonga, which currently rely heavily on costly diesel generators. The transition towards renewables combined with battery storage was presented as a more economical alternative. To optimize system capacities across different conditions, a multi-vector simulator was developed that evaluates various energy vectors such as electricity and hydrogen using technical inputs like efficiency or economic factors including capex costs—providing KPIs for scenario comparison. Case studies demonstrated significant cost reductions through additional photovoltaic (PV) capacity alongside batteries compared to traditional setups without optimization efforts applied beforehand! An open-source tool called "off-grid planner" aids project optimization by offering free design resources; plans are underway to include components tailored for Thailand’s demand profiles too.

Automated summarization by AI Conver

Dr. Philipp Blechinger
Head of Unit Off-Grid Systems
Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH
Germany

This session explores how digitalization is revolutionizing off-grid energy projects, enabling scalability and efficiency in underserved areas. Experts will discuss cutting-edge solutions based on the use and application of digital tools to support planning, development, and operations ultimately enhancing affordability. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging digital tools for optimized planning and project management, customer engagement, monitoring, and sustainable growth. Real-world case studies will highlight successful implementations, showcasing how technology bridges the gap between innovation and impact in energy access.

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Brianna Schuyler
Director of Digital Product
Access to Energy Institute
Germany

To Talk

Speaker

Chloé Coral
Project Engineer
Azimut 360
Spain

To Talk

Speaker

Bachirou Djibo Boubé
Senior Guest Researcher
Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH
Germany

Recording of presentation not authorized for publication.

Recording of presentation not authorized for publication.

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Off-grid solar systems are often the least expensive option for rural electrification. Solar home systems can power individual households, while mini-grids can supply entire villages. Each comes with its own advantages, disadvantages, and challenges. The aim of this session is to explore challenges as well as success stories. It takes well-functioning components such as battery systems, charge management and inverters to make projects successful. Proper system sizing, maintenance and repair management, as well as a robust financial concept are also necessary. If one of these elements is missing, the electrification will not be sustainable. This session will focus on the aspects mentioned above. The speakers will present successful and unsuccessful approaches and discuss what can be learned from them.

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Digital Tools for Planning and Monitoring: Insights from Mozambique

Wednesday, May 07, 2025, 02:00 pm - 03:30 pm

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This session explores how digitalization is revolutionizing off-grid energy projects, enabling scalability and efficiency in underserved areas. Experts will discuss cutting-edge solutions based on the use and application of digital tools to support planning, development, and operations ultimately enhancing affordability. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging digital tools for optimized planning and project management, customer engagement, monitoring, and sustainable growth. Real-world case studies will highlight successful implementations, showcasing how technology bridges the gap between innovation and impact in energy access.

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Setting the Scene "Off-Grid"

Wednesday, May 07, 2025, 04:00 pm - 05:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program

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Photovoltaic prices have fallen continuously in recent years - a trend that should translate into a growing market for off-grid solutions. Declining costs are crucial for rural electrification in particular, making sustainable energy supply economically viable in remote regions. However, so far many of these price advantages have not yet reached the people that need them most. Do existing framework conditions to foster rural electrification still work in this new market reality? Which measures are needed to ensure that cost reductions reach our target group? This session discusses strategies for improving the availability of low-cost off-grid solutions, financing and innovative business models. A look at successful practical examples shows which political, economic and technological levers need to be pulled to make off-grid PV accessible on a large scale.

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