Coordinator of the project:
Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI)
Project website
To be updated.
Overall Objectives
The main objective of RISES is to conduct industrial research to develop a methodological approach to provide affordable renewable energy to off-grid communities and urban areas in the Sahara and Sahel regions. The core technological solution is a modular, all-inclusive photovoltaic (PV) system that can be easily installed as a lightweight canopy on the flat roofs of typical North-African buildings, or on the ground as a shading/protective element, equipped with:
- anti-soiling PV modules;
- batteries for harsh weather conditions;
- a hybrid inverter for off-grid/on-grid operation;
- a smart control logic, with communication capabilities, to exchange data with other equipment deployed in the local area and with an external monitoring platform.
Study region
RISES targets off-grid communities and urban areas in the Sahara and Sahel regions.
What are the concrete actions that will be implemented?
The solution is delivered as a lightweight modular PV canopy optimised for desert conditions — installable on flat roofs, on the ground in open urban spaces or in agricultural fields as a protective/shading element — combined with a smart control and energy-management system able to create and manage small energy communities and to allow energy and data exchange.
What is the expected impact of the project?
- An innovative all-inclusive PV system installable as a lightweight modular canopy on the flat roofs of typical North-African buildings, or on the ground in open urban spaces or agricultural fields as a protective/shading element, with PV modules optimised for desert conditions, batteries and a hybrid inverter enabling off-grid/on-grid operation.
- A smart control / energy-management system that can easily create and manage small energy communities and allow energy and data exchange.
- Tailored business models ensuring the affordability of the solution even for the poorest communities, lowering upfront cost barriers and leveraging community energy sharing.
- Guidelines and capacity-building activities for all relevant stakeholders (designers, industry, technicians, labourers, investors, policymakers), supporting supply-chain creation through effective Pan-African and EU-Africa technology and knowledge transfer, as well as the development of professionalism and skills at various levels.
Results
To be updated throughout the project.
Resources and project news
To be updated throughout the project.