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Odyssey Energy Solutions and the Africa Minigrid Developers Association Pilot Remote Monitoring and Control Technology
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Odyssey Energy Solutions, an end-to-end platform for financing, procuring equipment for, and monitoring distributed energy assets, is excited to announce its partnership with the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) to implement its remote monitoring and control technology within AMDA's network of mini-grid developers. This collaboration is an important step toward enhancing operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making in the off-grid energy sector across Africa.
As part of the pilot program, AMDA will deploy Odyssey's remote monitoring and control technology across four mini-grid developers within its network. This initiative aims to provide developers with access to real-time operational data, empowering them to optimize the performance of their mini-grid sites and deliver reliable energy services to their communities.
“We are thrilled to partner with Odyssey Energy Solutions to leverage their technology in this pilot program," said Amon Mwadime, Director- Research, Data & Standards at AMDA. "By integrating remote monitoring and control capabilities into mini-grid operations, we are taking a significant step towards improving the reliability and efficiency of off-grid energy systems in Africa. Our members will truly reap the benefits of automated data and real-time insights, bidding farewell to the days of manual data collection.”
"By integrating remote monitoring and control capabilities into mini-grid operations, we are taking a significant step towards improving the reliability and efficiency of off-grid energy systems in Africa. Our members will truly reap the benefits of automated data and real-time insights, bidding farewell to the days of manual data collection.”
One of the developers participating in the pilot, NEoT Offgrid Africa, is already experiencing the benefits of Odyssey's remote monitoring and control technology firsthand.
"We are impressed with the capabilities of Odyssey's remote monitoring and control system," said Alex Kivumbi, Technical Manager at NEoT Offgrid Africa. "The real-time data insights provided by the platform have enabled us to proactively address operational challenges and optimize the performance of our mini-grid sites, ultimately enhancing the quality of service for our customers."
The real-time data insights provided by the platform have enabled us to proactively address operational challenges and optimize the performance of our mini-grid sites, ultimately enhancing the quality of service for our customers
In addition to empowering developers with actionable insights, the pilot program will also provide AMDA with valuable data to better understand industry trends and inform recommendations for policy and investment decisions.
“By partnering with Odyssey Energy Solutions, AMDA is reinforcing its commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the off-grid energy sector," said John Ouko, Chief Operating Officer at AMDA. "We believe that leveraging technology to improve operational efficiency and data analytics capabilities will play a crucial role in advancing universal energy access goals across Africa. This is a game-changer for the minigrid sector! ”
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Thursday, November 28, 2024
Pilot update: AMDA and Odyssey Energy Solutions’ minigrid data initiative
The Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) and Odyssey Energy Solutions are thrilled to provide an update on our pioneering project to standardize data collection and analytics in the mini-grid sector. This initiative, launched to address energy access challenges in Africa, continues to make significant strides despite complex hurdles.
Why this project matters
Minigrids often outperform traditional utilities in reliability and cost-effectiveness, yet they remain underfunded due to a lack of standardized performance data. This pilot leverages cutting-edge monitoring hardware and analytics platforms to provide actionable insights, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions and attract investment.
Key updates on the pilot
- Hardware deployment across five countries
- Monitoring hardware has been installed at 16 sites operated by five developers in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, and the DRC.
- Despite some challenges, such as voltage surges and installation delays, these sites are starting to generate valuable data.
- Dashboards in action
- Operational dashboards are providing insights into:some text
- Energy production and consumption trends
- Battery performance (state of charge, voltage, etc.)
- System uptime and downtime events
- Upcoming updates will integrate revenue and service-level metrics for a holistic performance view.
- Operational dashboards are providing insights into:some text
- Developer-specific progress
- Kenya: Six sites equipped, with measures underway to address voltage surges that damaged some controllers.
- Uganda: Progress on SMA integration is advancing, with a focus on resolving grid connection issues.
- Nigeria: Installations delayed by logistical issues; efforts are being made to address technical gaps.
- Tanzania: Meter disconnections and SMA integration challenges are being actively resolved.
- DRC: Installations delayed, but plans are in place to mobilize teams and complete deployments.
Challenges and lessons learned
- Installer capacity: Training and incentives are critical to ensuring timely installations.
- Hardware compatibility: Legacy equipment at some sites has required retrofitting, underscoring the need for standardization.
- Data gaps: While key metrics like energy production are available, financial and operational KPIs are still under development.
Looking ahead
As this pilot progresses, the focus remains on overcoming challenges and leveraging insights to refine and scale the initiative. Key next steps include:
- Expanding dashboard functionalities to include financial and operational metrics.
- Enhancing technical training for installers and streamlining deployment processes.
- Developing a scalable model informed by lessons from this phase.
This pilot represents a critical step toward transforming how minigrids operate, paving the way for increased investment and sustainable energy access for underserved communities.
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