The lack of electricity is one of the most pressing concerns in the developing world. While there is a pressing need to provide electrification, the current technologies have not been able to scale to serve these areas. This project is focused on developing technology that enables a peer-to-peer scalable DC micro-grid that creates a marketplace for electricity. This will allow people access to electricity who were not able to afford generating assets. Furthermore it incentivizes people who can afford generating assets to invest in more generation as now they are able to sell the excess power. The research will include designing and testing of low cost and high efficiency dc/dc power converters. The technology developed will be piloted in India.

Personally, energy in the developing world has been a passion of mine for a few years. I worked this past IAP and Summer for a Power Company in Ghana on the Network and Controls Group. This experience has increased my desire to see people have a sustainable source of power. I have also enjoyed the classes, labs and prior research with Professor Leeb and Perreault.