Off-grid solar concerns emerge with Rwanda study

A forthcoming paper by Durham University researchers Andrew Crossland, Oghenetejiri Anuta, Neal Wade and Bronwyn McNeil, in partnership with a solar photovoltaic (PV) installer in Rwanda, has found that inappropriate use of off-grid solar PV systems installed at health facilities and schools by NGOs is pushing up costs and shortening lifespans. “The cycle life of the batteries people are experiencing is two years, but we think you could increase that to five or six years at a minimum simply by changing the way you operate and by changing the way you design the systems,” Crossland told African Energy.