Catalysing energy access in Africa through smarter energy storage management

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Applied Mathematics)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Dr D Howey
Engineering Science
University of Oxford

Standard

EPSRC

01 April 2018

31 March 2019

12 months

£98,450

Energy

South East

Energy : Energy

Dr D Howey, Engineering Science, University of Oxford

This project enables the remote, automated management of distributed off-grid batteries powering solar home systems throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The research has two objectives: to examine solar home system (SHS) usage data to design smarter appliances for off-grid customers; and to optimise lithium ion battery (LIB) lifetime. M-KOPA collects daily usage data from >500,000 households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), however, there is a gap in effective use of the data for product management and design excellence. Using data science tools and machine learning algorithms, M-KOPA will develop approaches to maximise product battery life, and design smarter appliances. These tools will decrease the premature LIB failure rate (one of M-KOPA's greatest challenges). Oxford University will design battery failure prediction algorithms to increase the longevity, effectiveness, and reliability of future LIBs for off-grid customers. Thus, this project targets all three aspects of the energy trilemma: reducing emissions through increased life of LIBs in SSA, cost savings through optimal product design, and security of energy supply from more reliable SHS.

14/09/18