Case study prepared as teaching material for engineering courses, aiming students to use linear programming to solve a real problem in developing countries: to extend access to electricity in rural areas through renewable energy systems.

Electrification systems based on the use of renewable energies can provide much needed electricity to isolated communities, particularly those living in poverty in rural areas. Designs that combine wind and photovoltaic (PV) technologies as well as individual systems and microgrids have proven advantageous. In this context, the aim of this case study is that students develop a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model to design such projects. The model is based on the one presented by Ferrer-Martí et al. [2013] and allows minimizing the project cost, while considering the detail of the community, the energy resources and the available equipment. As a result, the size and location of all the equipment to install are defined.