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Mini-grids: power for a village

From one building to many homes: demand, distribution, tariffs and upkeep of a village mini-grid.

Back to Engineering · Solar power and mini-grids

Planned. This module is part of the plan and is not written yet.

EGEG-ELE-SOL-0606Level15–16

Why it matters

A Lantern sends power down one cable to a nearby clinic. A village mini-grid scales the same idea to many homes and workshops, and adds meters, tariffs and someone to maintain it.

Draft outline · in review
For
Level 15–16 · 200 Level to 300 Level
Inside
6 lessons and a test · about 180 minutes
Topic
Solar power and mini-grids · advanced, 4 of 4
Plate EG-ELE-SOL-06: planned.

Inside the module.

6 lessons in order, about 180 minutes in all, then a short test. Learners go at their own pace; the minutes are a guide, not a timetable.

Draft outline · in review

  1. Lesson 1: Generation, storage and distribution

    Panels, batteries, a power house and the poles and cables that reach each customer.

    Explain25 min, from minute 0

  2. Lesson 2: A village's load curve

    Sketch how demand rises in the evening and how a grain mill can use the midday sun.

    Worked example35 min, from minute 25

  3. Lesson 3: Evening peaks and daytime use

    Model how moving loads to daytime shrinks the battery a grid needs.

    Investigate30 min, from minute 60

  4. Lesson 4: Tariffs, meters and upkeep

    Prepaid meters, fair tariffs and saving for battery replacement.

    Explain30 min, from minute 90

  5. Lesson 5: Plan a mini-grid

    Size and cost a mini-grid for a village of 50 homes, a mill and a clinic.

    Project50 min, from minute 120

  6. Lesson 6: Check your skills

    Defend your plan's trade-offs.

    Review10 min, from minute 170

  7. End-of-module test

    Describe how a mini-grid generates, stores and distributes power, estimate a village's demand through the day, and weigh the costs, tariffs and maintenance that keep it running.

    Mastered at 85% or more. Retake it until you pass; nothing is lost, and each try gives feedback.

    Already know it? A Challenge Test (planned) clears the whole module: 90% overall, no objective below 75%.

    Last stageafter about 180 min

Practicalities

Draft outline · in review

  • Built to run offline

    Planned to run on the Lantern's own computer, with no internet needed.

  • Languages

    Planned first in English; every module aims to reach all of the Lantern's languages.

Try a question.

One question from the module, as a learner would meet it. Have a go, then open the worked solution a step at a time.

Draft outline · in review

A village mini-grid serves 40 homes using 300 Wh a day each, a grain mill using 6 kWh a day and a clinic using 4 kWh a day. What is the daily demand, and roughly what array size is needed at 5 peak sun hours with 25% losses?

Work it out on paper first, then show the answer and mark it yourself.

Particulars

Where it sits

Engineering · Electrical · Solar power and mini-grids

What a learner can do after it

  1. Describe how a mini-grid generates, stores and distributes power to many homes.
  2. Estimate a village's demand and how it changes through the day.
  3. Weigh the costs, tariffs and maintenance that keep a mini-grid running.

Needs first

Unlocks

Nothing requires this module yet.

Level

Level 15–16 · 200 Level to 300 Level

Show levels in

Level mappings are approximate. A qualified teacher or lecturer in each country must check them before they appear in the app. Levels 13–18 describe the content, not the learner: “Level 15” means material usually taught in a second-year university course, whoever chooses to learn it.

Difficulty for its level

4 of 4 · Advanced

Time

About 180 minutes

Alignments

  • Aligned to NUC CCMASpartial · in reviewNUC CCMAS Electrical/Electronic Engineering: power systems (descriptive ref)
  • Aligned to ABETpartial · in reviewABET student outcome: design to meet specified needs (descriptive ref)
  • Aligned to CORENpartial · in reviewCOREN outcomes: power and energy systems (descriptive ref)
  • Aligned to Typical university coursepartial · in reviewTypical third-year renewable energy systems course

Alignment in review until a qualified teacher or lecturer checks it. No exam body, university or vendor endorses us; learners still sit the real exam. University-level modules give knowledge, not university credit.

Challenge Test

Planned: a Challenge Test to prove you know it and skip it. Pass at 90% overall, with no objective below 75%.

University courses it previews

Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering

The route here.

Everything this module builds on, drawn as a route from its foundations. Solid lanes must be mastered first, or cleared by a Challenge Test; dashed lanes are suggestions that never lock anything.

From Level 1, Adding and subtracting to Level 9, Watts and watt-hours: an energy budget
  1. MA-ARI-OPS-01 Adding and subtracting, Level 1–3, Maths. Planned.
  2. MA-ARI-OPS-01Adding and subtractingMaths · Primary 1 to Primary 3 (Level 1–3) · Planned
  3. MA-ARI-OPS-02 Multiplication as equal groups, Level 2–3, Maths. Sample lesson in the demo.
  4. MA-ARI-OPS-02Multiplication as equal groupsMaths · Primary 2 to Primary 3 (Level 2–3) · Sample lesson in the demo Needs Adding and subtracting (required).Try the sample lesson: Multiplication as equal groups
  5. MA-ARI-OPS-03 Division as sharing and grouping, Level 3–4, Maths. Planned.
  6. MA-ARI-OPS-03Division as sharing and groupingMaths · Primary 3 to Primary 4 (Level 3–4) · Planned Needs Multiplication as equal groups (required).
  7. MA-ARI-OPS-04 Multiplying and dividing together, Level 3–4, Maths. Planned.
  8. MA-ARI-OPS-04Multiplying and dividing togetherMaths · Primary 3 to Primary 4 (Level 3–4) · Planned Needs Division as sharing and grouping (required).
  9. MA-ARI-ORD-01 Order of operations, Level 5–6, Maths. Planned.
  10. MA-ARI-ORD-01Order of operationsMaths · Primary 5 to Primary 6 (Level 5–6) · Planned Needs Multiplying and dividing together (required).
  11. MA-ALG-LIN-01 What an equation means, Level 5–6, Maths. Planned.
  12. MA-ALG-LIN-01What an equation meansMaths · Primary 5 to Primary 6 (Level 5–6) · Planned Needs Order of operations (required).
  13. MA-FDP-OPS-02 Adding and subtracting with different denominators, Level 5–6, Maths. Planned.
  14. MA-FDP-OPS-02Adding and subtracting with different denominatorsMaths · Primary 5 to Primary 6 (Level 5–6) · Planned · recommended
  15. MA-ALG-LIN-02 One-step equations, Level 6, Maths. Planned.
  16. MA-ALG-LIN-02One-step equationsMaths · Primary 6 (Level 6) · Planned Needs What an equation means (required).
  17. MA-ALG-EXP-01 Letters for numbers, Level 6–7, Maths. Planned.
  18. MA-ALG-EXP-01Letters for numbersMaths · Primary 6 to JSS 1 (Level 6–7) · Planned Needs Order of operations (required).
  19. MA-ALG-LIN-03 Two-step equations, Level 6–7, Maths. Sample lesson in the demo.
  20. MA-ALG-LIN-03Two-step equationsMaths · Primary 6 to JSS 1 (Level 6–7) · Sample lesson in the demo Needs One-step equations (required), Adding and subtracting with different denominators (recommended).Try the sample lesson: Two-step equations
  21. MA-NUM-POW-01 Squares, cubes and roots, Level 6–8, Maths. Planned.
  22. MA-NUM-POW-01Squares, cubes and rootsMaths · Primary 6 to JSS 2 (Level 6–8) · Planned
  23. SC-ENV-SOL-01 Energy from the sun: the Lantern, Level 6–9, Sciences. Planned.
  24. SC-ENV-SOL-01Energy from the sun: the LanternSciences · Primary 6 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 6–9) · Planned · recommended
  25. MA-ALG-FRM-01 Substituting into formulae, Level 7–8, Maths. Planned.
  26. MA-ALG-FRM-01Substituting into formulaeMaths · JSS 1 to JSS 2 (Level 7–8) · Planned Needs Letters for numbers (required).
  27. SC-PHY-ELC-01 Circuits and current, Level 7–8, Sciences. Planned.
  28. SC-PHY-ELC-01Circuits and currentSciences · JSS 1 to JSS 2 (Level 7–8) · Planned
  29. MA-ALG-LIN-04 Unknowns on both sides, Level 7–8, Maths. Planned.
  30. MA-ALG-LIN-04Unknowns on both sidesMaths · JSS 1 to JSS 2 (Level 7–8) · Planned Needs Two-step equations (required).
  31. SC-PHY-ELC-06 Electrical safety, Level 7–9, Sciences. Planned.
  32. SC-PHY-ELC-06Electrical safetySciences · JSS 1 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 7–9) · Planned Needs Circuits and current (required).
  33. MA-GEO-PYT-01 Pythagoras' theorem, Level 8–9, Maths. Planned.
  34. MA-GEO-PYT-01Pythagoras' theoremMaths · JSS 2 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 8–9) · Planned Needs Squares, cubes and roots (required).
  35. SC-PHY-ELC-02 Voltage, current and resistance, Level 8–9, Sciences. Planned.
  36. SC-PHY-ELC-02Voltage, current and resistanceSciences · JSS 2 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 8–9) · Planned Needs Circuits and current (required), Substituting into formulae (recommended).
  37. EG-ELE-SOL-01 How a solar panel makes electricity, Level 8–9, Engineering. Planned.
  38. EG-ELE-SOL-01How a solar panel makes electricityEngineering · JSS 2 to JSS 3 (BECE) (Level 8–9) · Planned Needs Circuits and current (required), Energy from the sun: the Lantern (recommended).
  39. MA-ALG-LIN-05 Brackets and fractions, Level 8, Maths. Planned.
  40. MA-ALG-LIN-05Brackets and fractionsMaths · JSS 2 (Level 8) · Planned · recommended
  41. MA-TRG-RAT-01 Sine, cosine and tangent, Level 9–10, Maths. Planned.
  42. MA-TRG-RAT-01Sine, cosine and tangentMaths · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs Pythagoras' theorem (required), Unknowns on both sides (required).
  43. SC-PHY-ELC-03 Electrical power and energy, Level 9–10, Sciences. Planned.
  44. SC-PHY-ELC-03Electrical power and energySciences · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs Voltage, current and resistance (required), Substituting into formulae (recommended).
  45. EG-ELE-SOL-02 Watts and watt-hours: an energy budget, Level 9–10, Engineering. Planned.
  46. EG-ELE-SOL-02Watts and watt-hours: an energy budgetEngineering · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs How a solar panel makes electricity (required), Electrical power and energy (required), Substituting into formulae (recommended).
  47. MA-ALG-FRM-02Changing the subject of a formulaMaths · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs Substituting into formulae (required), Unknowns on both sides (required).
  48. SC-PHY-ELC-04Series and parallel circuitsSciences · JSS 3 (BECE) to SSS 1 (Level 9–10) · Planned Needs Voltage, current and resistance (required).
  49. MA-TRG-RAT-02Finding anglesMaths · SSS 1 (Level 10) · Planned Needs Sine, cosine and tangent (required).
  50. EG-ELE-SOL-03Batteries: storing the sunEngineering · SSS 1 to SSS 2 (Level 10–11) · Planned Needs Watts and watt-hours: an energy budget (required), Series and parallel circuits (required), Changing the subject of a formula (required).
  51. MA-TRG-RAT-03Angles of elevation and depressionMaths · SSS 1 to SSS 2 (Level 10–11) · Planned Needs Finding angles (required).
  52. SC-PHY-ELC-05Direct and alternating currentSciences · SSS 1 to SSS 2 (Level 10–11) · Planned Needs Electrical power and energy (required).
  53. EG-ELE-SOL-04Sizing a solar systemEngineering · SSS 2 to SSS 3 (WASSCE) (Level 11–12) · Planned Needs Batteries: storing the sun (required), Angles of elevation and depression (required).
  54. From here on: Beyond school · university level
    EG-ELE-CIR-01Kirchhoff's lawsEngineering · A level / JUPEB / foundation year to 100 Level (Level 13–14) · Planned Needs Series and parallel circuits (required), Brackets and fractions (recommended).
  55. EG-ELE-SOL-05Charge controllers, inverters and safetyEngineering · A level / JUPEB / foundation year to 100 Level (Level 13–14) · Planned Needs Sizing a solar system (required), Direct and alternating current (required), Electrical safety (required).
  56. EG-ELE-SOL-06Mini-grids: power for a villageEngineering · 200 Level to 300 Level (Level 15–16) · Planned · the destination Needs Charge controllers, inverters and safety (required), Kirchhoff's laws (required).
33 stops across Maths, Sciences and Engineering. 2 have a sample lesson in the demo; the other 31 are planned and not yet written.

Help light the room where this is learned.

Every route on this map starts in a classroom with 24 stations, a tutor that works offline and a facilitator upstairs. Four are planned and waiting for light.

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