Electrical Safety in Solar Home Systems for Off-Grid Refrigeration in Developing Countries: An Assessment of Best Practices and Recommendations

A staggering 760 million people worldwide suffer from a lack of or inadequate electricity access. The absence of proper temperature-controlled storage contributes to up to 40% of postharvest losses and poses significant risks to the supply of medicines and vaccines, mainly in rural areas of developing countries. This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed. Solar home systems (SHSs) offer a solution for those areas, powering off-grid refrigerators and essential electric loads. Comprising a solar photovoltaic panel, an energy management device, and a battery, an SHS also provides power outlets for other low-energy consumption appliances. Notably, these systems are deemed secure as they primarily involve low-voltage dc. However, in remote communities, ensuring electrical safety during operation requires following specific standards, a topic that remains insufficiently addressed in the existing literature. Therefore, this study aims to contribute to the field of electrical safety by presenting the electrical risks regarding the installation, operation, and maintenance of SHSs focused on off-grid refrigeration. To achieve this goal, an assessment of the best practices and recommendations for reducing electrical incidents in installing, operating, and maintaining SHSs was conducted.