SmartMicro Grid Energy System Management Based on Optimum Running Cost for Rural Communities in Rwanda

The governmental electric utility and the private sector are joining hands to meet the target of electrifying all households by 2024.However,the aforementioned goal is challenged by households that are scattered in remote areas.So far,Solar Home Systems(SHS)have mostly been applied to increase electricity access in rural areas.SHSs have continuous constraints to meet electricity demands and cannot run income-generating activities.The current research presents the feasibility study of electrifying Remera village with the smart microgrid as a case study.The renewable energy resources available in Remera are the key sources of electricity in that village.The generation capacity is estimated based on the load profile.The microgrid configurations are simulated with HOMER,and the genetic algorithm is used to analyze the optimum cost.By analyzing the impact of operation and maintenance costs,the results show that the absence of subsidies increases the levelized cost of electricity(COE)five times greater than the electricity price from the public utility.The microgrid made up of PV,diesel generator,and batteries proved to be the most viable solution and ensured continuous power supply to customers.By considering the subsidies,COE reaches 0.186$/kWh,a competitive price with electricity from public utilities in Rwanda.

Neuromuscular,biomechanical,and energetic adjustments following repeated bouts of downhill running

Purpose This study used downhill running as a model to investigate the repeated bout effect(RBE)on neuromuscular performance,running biomechanics,and metabolic cost of running.Methods Ten healthy recreational male runners performed two 30-min bouts of downhill running(DR1 and DR2)at a-20%slope and 2.8 m/s 3 weeks apart.Neuromuscular fatigue,level running biomechanics during slow and fast running,and running economy parameters were recorded immediately before and after the downhill bouts,and at 24 h,48 h,72 h,96 h,and 168 h thereafter(i.e.,follow-up days).Results An RBE was confirmed by attenuated muscle soreness and serum creatine kinase rise after DR2 compared to DR1.An RBE was also observed in maximum voluntary contraction(MVC)force loss and voluntary activation where DR2 resulted in attenuated MVC force loss and voluntary activation immediately after the run and during follow-up days.The downhill running protocol significantly influenced level running biomechanics;an RBE was observed in which center of mass excursion and,therefore,lower-extremity compliance were greater during follow-up days after DR1 compared to DR2.The observed changes in level running biomechanics did not influence the energy cost of running.Conclusion This study demonstrated evidence of adaptation in neural drive as well as biomechanical changes with the RBE after DR.The higher neural drive resulted in attenuated MVC force loss after the second bout.It can be concluded that the RBE after downhill running manifests as changes to global and central fatigue parameters and running biomechanics without substantially altering the energy cost of running.