Md Motakabbir Rahman, received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh. Since March 2020, he has served as a Lecturer at Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology. He completed his Master of Engineering Science (MESc) in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Western University, Canada in September, 2024. He also worked as a research assistant with the Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) research group, under the supervision of Professor Joshua M. Pearce, focusing on open-source appropriate technology (OSAT) for sustainability and poverty reduction.
Research Interest
Md Motakabbir Rahman’s research interests focus on photovoltaic energy systems and power electronics, with a specialization in open-source nanogrid design and control. His work emphasizes modular DC nanogrid development tailored for sustainable, application-specific solutions. He possesses extensive expertise in power system modeling, stability analysis, protection system design, and flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), with hands-on experience using PSCAD simulations. Additionally, he was actively involved in the development of the Pale Blue Hydrogen project, funded by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), focusing on solar-powered AEM electrolyzer-based green hydrogen production and solar-powered plasma-based blue hydrogen generation.
Work Experience
Graduate Research Assistant (September, 2022 to August, 2024)
Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology (FAST) Research Group
Designed and developed the first-ever modular DC nanogrid, enabling flexible and scalable energy solutions.
Contributed to the Pale Blue Hydrogen project, funded by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), focusing on solar-powered AEM electrolyzer-based green hydrogen and plasma-based blue hydrogen production.
Engineered various solar-powered devices and systems, advancing renewable energy applications and integration into diverse energy environments.
Lecturer (March, 2020 to Present)
Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET), Natore, Bangladesh
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Courses offered: Power Electronics, VLSI, Renewable Energy, Electronics I, Microprocessors and Interfacing.
Lab-in-charge of Electronic Circuit Laboratory.
Student Coordinator of EEE Batch 11 (32 students)
Vice president of BAUET Automation and Robotics Society (Sep. 2021 -Sep 2022)
Member of accreditation and self-assessment report (SAR) committee.
Routine Coordinator. (Summer 2021)
Industrial Trainee (7th May 2018 to 24th May, 2018)
Open-Source Hardware Design of Modular Solar DC Nanogrid
This research article provides a novel innovation: a modular version of the PV powered DC nanogrid to be installed at consumer premises in a device form, operating as a plug-and-play device that can be customized according to consumer requirements.
Solar DC nanogrids are well-established, but traditional designs focus on AC systems, requiring high technical knowledge and resulting in high costs.
This study introduces a novel open-source modular DC nanogrid, offering plug-and-play functionality and customizable voltage levels for various applications.
The system includes converters, controllers, and data loggers, with step-by-step assembly guidance, and has been experimentally validated and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink.
The nanogrid is ideal for powering devices in locations like campsites, emergency vehicles, and off-grid homes, offering a more accessible alternative to AC systems.
Stability and power supply efficiency were confirmed through time-domain simulations and load variation tests, making it suitable for a wide range of user-specific applications.
Modular Open-Source Solar Photovoltaic-Powered DC Nanogrid System
This research presents a modular open-source solar photovoltaic (PV)-powered DC nanogrid system designed for sustainable and accessible off-grid power solutions, particularly in remote and isolated areas. By combining DIY PV technology with batteries, users can generate, store, and utilize electricity, reducing reliance on traditional grid infrastructure and promoting energy independence.
Modular Open-Source Design: Customizable for diverse applications.
DIY Approach: Empowers users to assemble and install their PV systems.
DC Power Supply: Supplies DC power to loads at varying voltage levels.
Parametric Energy Management System (EMS): Dynamically selects operational modes for efficiency.
Simulation Validation: Confirms effectiveness in coordinating PV-battery system.
Customizable Solution: Adaptable for different DC voltages, power levels, and battery backup requirements.
Open Sharing of Design Specifications: Fosters continuous improvement to meet evolving energy challenges.
Completed in 2023
Open-source Inverter based plasma generation system for blue hydrogen production
Inverter for plasma
An open source Inverter for 120V, 60Hz AC supply compatible with 24V battery, within the cost of 200 CAD.
The open-source ball mill is fully customizable and designed to be fabricated with distributed manufacturing. The parametric designs of the main components are 3-D printable on a low-cost readily accessible RepRap-class fused filament 3-D printer, and the electronic parts, bearings, magnets, and balls are provided by a wide-range of of-the-shelf vendors.
The highly-customizable design of ball mill reduces the cost to <US$130 for an AC powered version and <US$315 for a switchable power that enables off-grid operation with a solar module and battery.
The open-source ball mill is capable of reducing silicon particle sizes from the millimeter scale down to the nanometer scale.
The open-source ball mill is also made with standard dimensions to work effectively and has been demonstrated to grind silicon particles from waste PV modules from 0.8 mm to 7 µm in 18 h.
Md Motakabbir Rahman, Wei Zhang, Ying Zheng, Joshua M. Pearce,”Open-source portable solar power supply for plasma generators”, HardwareX, Mar. 2025, e00641, ISSN 2468-0672, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00641.
Riya Roy, Giorgio Antonini, Koami S. Hayibo, Md Motakabbir Rahman, Sara Khan, Wei Tian, Michael S.H. Boutilier, Wei Zhang, Ying Zheng, Amarjeet Bassi, Joshua M. Pearce,”Comparative techno-environmental analysis of grey, blue, green/yellow and pale-blue hydrogen production”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 116, pp. 200-210, Mar. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.03.104.
Antonini, Giorgio, Md Motakabbir Rahman, Cameron Brooks, Domenico Santoro, Christopher Muller, Ahmed Al-Omari, Katherine Bell, and Joshua M. Pearce. 2025. “Portable Solar-Integrated Open-Source Chemistry Lab for Water Treatment with Electrolysis” Technologies 13, no. 2: 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13020057
M. M. Rahman, G. Antonini, and J. M. Pearce, “Open-source DC-DC converter enabling direct integration of solar photovoltaics with anion exchange membrane electrolyzer for green hydrogen production,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 88, pp. 333–343, Oct. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.09.199.
M. M. Rahman, S. Khan, and J. M. Pearce, “Open-Source Hardware Design of Modular Solar DC Nanogrid,” Technologies, vol. 12, no. 9, Art. no. 9, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.3390/technologies12090167.
M. M. Rahman and J. Pearce, “Modular Open Source Solar Photovoltaic-Powered DC Nanogrids with Efficient Energy Management System,” Solar Energy and Sustainable Development Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, Art. no. 1, Feb. 2024, https://doi.org/10.51646/jsesd.v13i1.169
Rahman, M. M., & Islam, M. S. (2020). PSO and ANN Based Hybrid MPPT Algorithm for Photovoltaic Array under Partial Shading Condition. Engineering International, 8(1), 9-24. https://doi.org/10.18034/ei.v8i1.481
Islam, M. S., Sultana, S., & Rahman, M. M. (2019). Protection of Power System during Cyber-Attack using Artificial Neural Network. Engineering International, 7(2), 73-84. https://doi.org/10.18034/ei.v7i2.478
Conference Papers
S. Khan and M. M. Rahman, "Design and Simulation of Solar DC Nano Grid System from Bangladesh Perspective," 2021 International Conference on Automation, Control and Mechatronics for Industry 4.0 (ACMI), 2021, pp. 1-6, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACMI53878.2021.9528159
M. M. Rahman and M. S. Islam, "Artificial Neural Network Based Maximum Power Point Tracking of a Photovoltaic System," 2019 3rd International Conference on Electrical, Computer & Telecommunication Engineering (ICECTE), Rajshahi, Bangladesh, 2019, pp. 117-120, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICECTE48615.2019.9303531
Awards and Honours
Hydro One Scholarship 2024, awarded for the academic achievement and contributions to Power Systems Engineering at Western University.
Student of the Year award for the academic year 2018-2019, having attained the highest CGPA of 4.00/4.00 in the fourth year of Bachelor's degree among 120 students at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET).
