Which customers belong together? An enhanced off-grid clustering algorithm for cost-effective rural electrification

Pedro Ciller, Sara Lumbreras, Andrés González-García · 2026 · Energy Strategy Reviews

Summary. This paper presents an improved clustering algorithm for rural electrification that determines which off-grid consumers should be grouped together for standalone systems or mini-grids. The algorithm enhances cost estimation accuracy and explores more potential solutions than existing methods. Applied to Peru's Cajamarca region, it reduced electrification costs by 6.16% compared to traditional approaches, producing better-sized mini-grids and more appropriate standalone system allocations.

Read the original

@article{ciller-2026-which-customers-belong-together-enhanced,
  title   = {Which customers belong together? An enhanced off-grid clustering algorithm for cost-effective rural electrification},
  author  = {Pedro Ciller and Sara Lumbreras and Andrés González-García},
  journal = {Energy Strategy Reviews},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1016/j.esr.2026.102213},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2026.102213}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Which customers belong together? An enhanced off-grid clustering algorithm for cost-effective rural electrification
AU  - Pedro Ciller
AU  - Sara Lumbreras
AU  - Andrés González-García
JO  - Energy Strategy Reviews
PY  - 2026
DO  - 10.1016/j.esr.2026.102213
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2026.102213
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1016/j.esr.2026.102213

Countries

Peru

Regions

South America

Categories

energy, regional-innovation-systems, general-innovation

Added

2026-06-01