Optimal Design of a Multi-Hub Battery Charging System for Rural Areas Electrification in the Global South

Access to electricity is essential for socio-economic development, especially in rural areas of the Global South. Portable battery-based systems allow users to rent or recharge batteries at centralized stations powered by renewable sources, offering a viable alternative for off-grid electrification. This paper presents a methodology for designing a multi-hub battery charging system aimed at ensuring cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability. The study addresses two main objectives: 1) determining the optimal number, location, and allocation strategy of households to charging hubs considering geographical and logistic constraints, and 2) estimating the daily power demand profile for each hub. To address the first goal, an integer linear programming problem is defined, while for the latter, an analysis-based Monte Carlo simulation of a discrete-time queue is proposed. The methodology is validated through simulations using data extracted from a real scenario, demonstrating its effectiveness and adaptability.