AR-Mini: AI-powered renewable mini-grids for rural regions in Sri Lanka 

Partners: The Robert Gordon University (Lead), Alta Vision (Pvt) Ltd

Country: Sri Lanka 

Technology: Smart green grids, including mini and main grid technologies

Stage: Early

Stage: 9

Renewable energy sources have the capacity to increase energy security, reduce the risk of fuel pollution and reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. This is especially beneficial for countries like Sri Lanka, which have no fossil fuel reserves but are rich in renewable energy sources.

Despite the benefits, the use of renewable sources increases the complexity of management and control of the electricity grid. Mini-grids are used to alleviate such complexities but there are challenges when balancing demand and supply from multiple renewable energy sources. An intelligent mini-grid controller can deal with uncertainties in both demand and supply.

This collaborative project between Sri Lanka (AVS) and the UK (RGU), aims to demonstrate the feasibility of an AI-powered Renewable Mini-grid (AR-Mini) for rural regions in Sri Lanka. The project objectives are the design and development of a prototypical AR-Mini, managed by an AI-powered mini-grid management system, that optimises core operations, and to assess the feasibility of AR-Mini in terms of improving access to low-carbon, reliable and affordable energy in Sri Lanka.