Off-Grid Energy Access

One critical aspect of the global transition to a low-carbon energy system is the provision of an adequate level of energy services to a large and growing proportion of humanity. The energy poor, living primarily off any electrical grid, offer a unique opportunity and new markets for a modular concept for energy access. New technologies, especially those making use of renewable sources of energy, will be key ingredients in insuring long-term sustainability, the quality of life of communities and mission success of military installations. This chapter examines the realities and challenges facing remote, off-grid communities and location, and introduces a modular design concept – Smart Micro-Grid within Smart Energy Network – that leverages technologies, such as small hydroelectric technology and thin-film solar, to capture distributed renewable energy resources.