Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces critical challenges in energy access and agricultural productivity, with electrification rates at a mere 45% and irrigation rates at 5%. The problem is in part due to the low economic viability of rural electrification, particularly through grid extension, lack of low-cost irrigation energy, and limited access to finance for the high cost of irrigation infrastructure. Despite their promising potential, community-level microgrids' deployment has been rather slow in SSA, partly due to the lack of viable business models for the dispersed low-income rural population. The first part of this talk is centered on the symbiotic benefits of co-planning community-level microgrids with smallholder irrigation. It examines the conditions necessary for a mutually beneficial coexistence between farmers and microgrid operators, highlighting the role of community-level microgrids in enhancing sustainable energy access and food production. The second part of the talk explores grid-integration techniques for renewable power systems, including optimal dispatch strategies for wind-hydrokinetic system under Time-of-Use Tariffs and the application of model predictive control (MPC) in grid-tied solar-PV battery microgrid. The conclusion part of the talk outlines ongoing research and future directions, specifically my commitment to sustainability research at UMass, aiming to foster innovation in sustainable energy infrastructure deployment and its critical role in energy transition.
Bio: Fhazhil Wamalwa is a PhD candidate at Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology. His research bridges the gap between sustainable energy access and food production in Sub-Saharan Africa, offering innovative solutions for rural electrification and agricultural modernization. With a robust foundation in electrical engineering, sustainability, control theory, and geospatial data science, Fhazhil's research has been featured in peer-reviewed journals such as Energy Conversion and management, Renewable energy, and Energy for sustainable development.