Data-Driven Design for Off-Grid Systems: Electricity in the Navajo Nation

Solar power can provide crucial electricity to homes on the Navajo Nation that are not connected to the power grid. Field data on electricity usage is a reliable guide to the design of these off-grid power systems.

Join us to explore a case study of off-grid communities in the Navajo Nation, the Native American reservation in the mountains and deserts of the American West. The study examines the characteristics of electricity consumption in 150 off-grid Navajo Nation solar homes, focusing on daily energy usage and its implications for off-grid system design.

This E4C Webinar interests engineers and other technically trained students and professionals, particularly those who work with, or are curious about, off-grid energy systems design, renewable energy or social impact and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7.

Date: Wednesday, April 12th | Time: 11:00 am ET

Speakers:

Henry Louie: Dr. Henry Louie received his B.S.E.E. degree from Kettering University in 2002, his M.S. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004, and his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2008. He is presently a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seattle University. He is President and Co-founder of KiloWatts for Humanity, a non-profit organization providing off-grid electricity access and business opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015/2016, Dr. Louie was Fulbright Scholar to Copperbelt University in Kitwe, Zambia. His textbook, Off-Grid Electrical Systems in Developing Countries is used by universities around the world. Dr. Louie is the 2022 recipient of the IEEE Region 6 award for Outstanding IEEE Member Who Promoted Humanitarian Projects and Activities.

Derrick Terry: Mr. Derrick Terry is a Renewable Energy Specialist for Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA). He assists in managing the Off-grid solar program for NTUA as well as the On-grid Distributed Generation Program, where he maintains, monitors and operates over 600 off-grid systems with the assistance of 30 qualified personnel located throughout the NTUA service area. Mr. Terry has over 16 years of experience of working on and around photovoltaic systems. He is dedicated to optimizing off-grid photovoltaic systems for people that don’t have grid power. His background is rooted in sustainable building and sustainable development on the Navajo Nation for the past 22 years.

Mohammed Ba-Aoum: Mohammed Ba-Aoum is a Ph.D. candidate in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech (VT). His research focuses on using data science and modeling to inform decision-makers and develop data-driven policies that can drive efficiency and innovation. He holds dual master’s degrees, an MS in Industrial Engineering and an MA in Social Science, from Arizona State University, a BS in Electrical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), and a certificate in leading new ventures from MIT. Mohammed worked as a lecturer in Industrial and Systems Engineering at VT and KFUPM and as an engineer at ARAMCO. He was an E4C fellow in the summer of 2022, and he is dedicated to using his expertise to make a positive impact in the world.