A case study for micro-grid PV: lessons learned from a rural electrification project in India

Abstract

Micro-grids in developing countries present a significant application opportunity for photovoltaics (PV) as an energyenabling technology. The authors project 10 GW for this application in the next decade. The growth of this sector will be enhanced by shared learning of the best practices. The authors are part of a team that successfully installed 1/3 MW in micro-grids and presented the lessons learned and a useful methodology for determining key metrics. The PV is part of the rural electrification in India and is representative of current global PV micro-grids. This project provides basic lighting and electricity for 57 villages in Visakhapatnam in India. The project was carried out with a goal of optimizing power against cost. Various metrics are presented: costs, time, operations and maintenance, and performance. Also discussed are implementation strategies for cost containment, stakeholder considerations, and post-install support and user payment collection. Learning points are presented on project execution, engagement of local people, and challenges addressed. The aspect of demand capacity level (hours of availability) is examined in more detail, with modeling being performed to identify an optimal approach to increasing the level given the cost constraints. The combination of real data and modeling is a useful approach for PV and micro-grid optimization. This case study quantitatively supports the value of the use of PV for rural electrification. Beyond this example in India, where the federal government is planning an increase to more than 2000 sites, there is a significant opportunity for PV in the global micro-grid electrification context.

Meeting Future Energy Needs in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

“…For instance, in Afghanistan, nearly 50% of the beneficiaries of small-scale community-based renewable energy projects in selected areas reported that the projects helped them to improve their living conditions (Shoaib and Ariaratnam 2016). Loka et al (2014) found that decentralized micro-grid PV systems could benefit remote villages because they are both viable and cost effective. Proietti et al (2015) successfully tested the possibility of electricity generation from wind in high-altitude remote regions of Nepal.…”

Phase synchronization of autonomous AC grid system with passivity‐based control

“…8,9 In this paper, we focus on renewable DC sources of electricity and suggest an autonomous grid formulation to utilize the DC electric power, motivated by recent stand-alone solar power initiatives in rural areas in various developing countries. 6,10,11 We introduce a ring-coupled buck-type inverter system to utilize energy from DC power sources by converting it to AC voltage. The basic design of this grid is shown in Figure 1.…”

Optimal Sizing and Operation of Electric and Thermal Storage in a Net Zero Multi Energy System

“…In particular contexts, such as isolated and rural areas, or small islands, where energy supply from conventional sources (diesel, gas, etc.) is problematic and expensive and electrification by the public network is economically unjustified, the use of locally available resources such as biomasses [11], solar [12], and wind [13] can improve reliability, environmental impacts, and energy costs. Further efficiencies can be also reached integrating energy carriers such as electricity and thermal energy [14].…”