Abstract for: Navigating the Dynamics of Battery Operations in Off-grid Mini-grids: A Systems Approach

Off-grid mini-grid systems are considered a promising solution to unelectrified rural areas. Due to increasing environmental concerns, renewable-based mini-grids, especially with solar as a source, are installed in more numbers. The mini-grid ecosystem is complex due to the interconnected interactions of multiple building blocks and stakeholders. This complexity and the variations in the ecosystem over time of operational life bring sustainability challenges to mini-grid operations. The challenges may be classified as technical, economic, social, and institutional. Systems approach is suitable for analyzing the sustainability of complex and dynamic systems. The dynamics of battery energy storage systems drive the technical performance of the mini-grids. This paper attempts to navigate the dynamics of battery operations using a systems approach.