Underdefined Power Quality in Rural DC Energy Systems

DC energy systems are gaining popularity and are expected to experience a growing complexity. Especially in the context of energy access, where energy poor communities get connected to modern means of electricity and clean cooking, reliability of the energy systems is of paramount importance. Power quality for dc energy systems is however underdefined and could very well turn out to be an obstacle for energy access if left unattended. This paper analyzes how poor dc power quality could adversely influence the lifetime of energy systems and shows examples of these mechanisms through measurements on ten different off-the-shelf dc powersources.