In a recent publication from the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and as part of the electrification of rural areas in developing countries, the LVDC solution (low voltage direct current) is establishing itself as a genuine solution for the future for areas still deprived of electricity or those where this energy is irregular and precarious.

We regret even more the 1.2 billion human beings deprived of access to electricity when it is considered by the United Nations as the cornerstone of the economy and the best way to fight against extreme poverty. In these parts of the world, the mere privilege of having access to electricity does not mean a constant quality of connection, but rather irregular distribution with a very limited power and often in intervals of 2 or 3 hours per day. A situation which is the result of a drastic lack of investment in transport and, to a certain extent, distribution of electrical energy infrastructure.
The LVDC solution should establish itself thanks to production on the basis of photovoltaic panels whose price has fallen sharply and by the simplicity of set up, without having to worry about connecting to networks that are very little developed in these areas. A storage problem still exists despite more and more competitive batteries to evolve toward self-sufficiency.

In a more general way and without realising it, we all live in a DC world made up of devices and objects running on continuous current (multimedia, computers, telephones, ...) all requiring adaptors which convert the AC of LV plugs into DC. Ideally, these families of devices should be able to connect directly to a LVDC network. Participating in the development of a sustainable world, the LVDC solution could make the objective of 100% access to electrical energy by 2030 possible. On the subject, the IEC is engaged in a voluntary approach to create a normative system to make LVDC a safe technology for rural electrification, but beyond that, for a more general use of continuous current.

To find out more: http://www.iec.ch/about/brochures/pdf/energy/iec_lvdc_electricity_acces…

AC: Alternating current
DC: Direct current