International Direct Drive Solar Project

Worked as the secondary project lead, to the team abroad, aiding them with their pursuits.

DDS is a solar system that bypasses the electrical grid by connecting solar panels directly to the devices and that they power. Despite the intuitiveness of this approach, it has remained relatively unknown--we are hoping to change that.

Link to Direct Drive Solar Website, contacts, and further information

We are developing and deploying Direct DC Solar (DDS) microgrids and Direct Solar Optimizer (DSO) circuits to power industrial and domestic applications-- such as community microgrids, schools, and small enterprises in low-income and off-grid regions.

Because DDS systems offer the least expensive, most efficient, and simplest energy solution for communities where expanding or maintaining the traditional electrical grid is costly or impractical. By directly using solar energy without inverters or complex infrastructure, communities can access reliable daytime power for critical needs like cooking, pumping, and manufacturing.

We design and implement open-source DSO circuits that maintain panels at their optimal operating voltage and enable smart load prioritization when solar power is limited. 

Field deployments such as the 180V microgrid at Living Energy Farms and the 6 kW solar cooking installation in Uganda demonstrate safe, effective operation supported by data logging, local manufacturing, and community training to build long-term local expertise and reduce system costs.