Approach for standardization of off-grid electrification projects

Past experiences show that a large number of off-grid electrification projects fail because focus is generally given in technical installation without paying sufficient attention to the long-term sustainability of the projects. In such projects, several important steps, which need to be followed, are not covered. Moreover, there is no standardized approach, which could be followed while formulating the off-grid electrification projects. Therefore, there is a need for developing and benchmarking the systematic approaches, which could be followed for project planning and formulation. In this paper a modest attempt has been made to develop a decision making tool which involves approaches that are to be followed for entire planning and formulation of off-grid electrification project. The standardization of processes is expected to help in accelerating the implementation of off-grid electrification projects in an effective manner while fostering to achieve the national electrification targets in a stipulated timeframe.     

Feasibility assessment of Anchor-Business-Community model for off-grid rural electrification in India

The concept of “micro-grids” as self-sustained power systems is driven largely by business models, which have to be developed by considering the perspectives of all the stakeholders. This study tests the feasibility of the Anchor-Business-Community model of off-grid electrification in a cluster of two Hamlets in Uttar Pradesh, from the perspective of a Renewable Energy Service Company. Telecom towers, Flour Mills and rural communities have been considered as the Anchor, Business and community customers respectively. Primary surveys have been carried out to assess socio-economic characteristics, renewable energy resource availability and energy demand. Cost savings has been assumed to be the primary incentive for the customers to switch to clean energy. Cash flow analysis has been done to estimate the level of profitability of the project with and without the current level of subsidy. Solar Photovoltaic systems, Biomass gasification systems and Solar-Biomass hybrid systems have been modelled using HOMER. The model for Solar PV system with subsidy was found to be the most robust out of all three models in the scenario analysis. Solar-Biomass hybrid systems and Biomass Standalone systems are found to have the potential to offer a healthy level of returns under the best case and most likely scenarios.     

Techno-economic feasibility of photovoltaic,wind, diesel and hybrid electrification systems for off-grid rural electrification in Colombia

Electrification to rural and remote areas with limited or no access to grid connection is one of the most challenging issues in developing countries like Colombia. Due to the recent concerns about the global climatic change and diminishing fuel prices, searching for reliable, environmental friendly and renewable energy sources to satisfy the rising electrical energy demand has become vital. This study aims at analyzing the application of photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines and diesel generators in a stand-alone hybrid power generation system for rural electrification in three off-grid villages in Colombia with different climatic characteristics. The areas have been selected according to the “Colombia’s development plan 2011–2030 for non-conventional sources of energy”. First, different combinations of wind turbine, PV, and diesel generator are modeled and optimized to determine the most energy-efficient and cost-effective configuration for each location. HOMER software has been used to perform a techno-economic feasibility of the proposed hybrid systems, taking into account net present cost, initial capital cost, and cost of energy as economic indicators.     

Pico hydro – Reducing technical risks for rural electrification

Very small hydropower (pico hydro) schemes, with an output of less than 5 kW, can be a cost-effective option for the electrification of remote rural communities. Despite the fact that each hydropower site is unique, there is potential for using standardised equipment and low-cost approaches to scheme design. Relatively low equipment costs are possible, particularly if locally manufactured in a developing country, which enable costs per unit of energy output to be lower than small petrol or diesel generators, wind turbines or PV systems.Nevertheless, it is important not to compromise on technical quality of pico hydro schemes, as this may lead to poor efficiency or long periods when the scheme cannot operate, which will affect the financial success of the scheme. In the longer term, inappropriate cost reductions may lead to reduced uptake of the technology. The challenge is therefore to provide engineering designs and implementation methods that can effectively be customised for a wide range of schemes.This paper describes research and development of successful approaches that have been used to enable pico hydropower to be implemented in diverse situations around the globe. It includes an analysis of penstock pipe sizing to achieve optimum economic design.     

Utilization of pico hydro generation in domestic and commercial loads

Pico hydro is a term used to distinguish very small-scale hydropower with a maximum electrical output of five kilowatts (5 kW). It is a good technique of providing electricity to the off-grid remote and isolated regions that suffer energy deficit. Typical pico hydro generator is designed and supported by electrical converting system, batteries and safety equipment so that it can be installed at the residential water pipeline. In pico hydro generation, the environmental impact is negligible since large dams are not involved, and the schemes can be managed and maintained by the consumer. This paper is reviewing the application of hydro generation and particularly focusing on the implementation of pico hydro generation system in University Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Campus-Pekan. This system was designed and simulated using the Matalb simulink blocks. The pico hydro generator has been tested in a real application with a pelton turbine design which utilizes a high pressure of water flowing from the main tank into the faculties. The speed of the turbine and alternator depend on the pressure of the water. In this work, a 1.05 kW alternator is used to charge the battery and the DC power output from a battery is converted into 220 V, 50 Hz.     

Solar home system electrification as a viable technology option for Africa's development

This paper is based on a review of the effectiveness of solar home systems (SHS) in Africa in meeting users expectations on a service based analytical approach. Various projects have deployed SHS on the promise that they are cost-effective, can meet end-user demands, have ability to alleviate poverty, can save time and reduce emissions. However, a close review of the actual cost of these systems given the services they provide indicates most of the promises remain unmet and hence questions the wisdom of using public funds to support the system at the expense of more appropriate technologies.     

Modelling an off-grid integrated renewable energy system for rural electrification in India using photovoltaics and anaerobic digestion

This work describes the design optimisation and techno-economic analysis of an off-grid Integrated Renewable Energy System (IRES) designed to meet the electrical demand of a rural village location in West Bengal – India with an overall electrical requirement equivalent to 22 MWh year⁻¹. The investigation involved the modelling of seven scenarios, each containing a different combination of electricity generation (anaerobic digestion with biogas combined heat and power (CHP) and photovoltaics) and storage elements (Vanadium redox batteries, water electrolyser and hydrogen storage with fuel cell). Micro-grid modelling software HOMER, was combined with additional modelling of anaerobic digestion, to scale each component in each scenario considering the systems' ability to give a good quality electricity supply to a rural community. The integrated system which contained all of the possible elements – except hydrogen production and storage presented the lowest capital ($US 71 k) and energy cost ($US 0.289 kWh⁻¹) compared to the scenarios with a single energy source. The biogas CHP was able to meet the electrical load peaks and variations and produced 61% of the total electricity in the optimised system, while the photovoltaics met the daytime load and allowed the charging of the battery which was subsequently used to meet base load at night.     

Integrated solar energy systems for rural electrification in Kenya

In sub-Saharan Africa where population is projected to increase by 124% in the next 20 years, grid extension has advanced more slowly than in any other major regions; only about a third of the urban residents, and a mere 8% of the rural population, are served by grid electricity. Today, it is estimated that nearly two billion people worldwide remain without access to electricity or the immediate prospect of grid electrification. The situation in Kenya is no different. About 80% urban and 99.5% rural households, respectively, in Kenya have no access to electricity and its services. The annual electricity demand currently stands at 6% and increasing. However, we have shown that Kenya is well endowed with abundant renewable energy (RE) potential, especially solar energy resources. In our study, we have observed that Kenya gets an annual average exposure to sunshine of about 10 h per day in most regions, and an annual mean radiation of 6.98 kW h/m², which if harnessed efficiently could contribute to improve quality of life in rural and poor urban sector in Kenya.     

Low-carbon off-grid electrification for rural areas in the United Kingdom: Lessons from the developing world

Low-carbon off-grid electrification for rural areas is becoming increasingly popular in the United Kingdom. However, many developing countries have been electrifying their rural areas in this way for decades. Case study fieldwork in Nepal and findings from United Kingdom based research will be used to examine how developed nations can learn from the experience of developing countries with regard to the institutional environment and delivery approach adopted in renewable energy off-grid rural electrification. A clearer institutional framework and more direct external assistance during project development are advised. External coordinators should also engage the community in a mobilization process a priori to help alleviate internal conflicts of interest that could later impede a project.     

Renewable rural electrification: Sustainability assessment of mini-hybrid off-grid technological systems in the African context

The investigation summarised in this paper applied a sustainability assessment methodology on a renewable energy technological system in a rural village project that was commissioned by the South African Department of Minerals and Energy. The project comprised of wind, solar and lead-acid battery energy storage technologies that were implemented as a mini-hybrid off-grid electrification system for the village. The sustainability assessment methodology predicts the outcomes of such interventions by way of a learning model using discipline experts in the fields of economics, sociology, ecosystem sustainability, institutional governance, and the physics and chemistry of energy conversion processes. The comparison of the project's outcomes with a South African sustainable development framework shows that the specific village renewable off-grid electrification system is not viable. The main reason is that charges for electricity supply costs in village grids are too high for available subsidies; the economies of scale for renewable energy supply technologies favour national grids. The failure of the integrated system may also be attributable to the complexity of the social-institutional sub-system, which resulted in uncertainty for project planners and system designers, and the lack of resilience of the technological system to demands from the socio-economic and institutional sub-systems. Policy-related recommendations are made accordingly.     

Sustainability assessment of renewable energy projects for off-grid rural electrification: The Pangan-an Island case in the Philippines

Renewable energy systems (RESs) have been promoted for rural electrification as an answer to the growing energy needs of communities while simultaneously satisfying environmental and resource scarcity problems. These off-grid systems however have several challenges in the perspective of sustainability due to the technically and financially weak recipients and users of the projects. There is still, however, less detailed understanding how the technical and economic aspects of the projects can properly match the social aspects to promote sustainability. This paper aimed to further understand the challenges and social impacts of rural electrification projects using RES through a case study of a centralized off-grid solar plant in the Philippines. The study used multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to identify essential user attributes which explain the users’ electricity consumption behaviors. The community cooperative had difficulties maintaining the facility in the long term due to financial and capacity related challenges. A holistic approach dealing with the technical, economic and social aspects in developing RES projects promote sustainability.     

Preliminary identification of potential markets for off-grid electrification: tool development and a case study of Ghana

With more than one billion people lacking access to electricity in the world, ensuring universal access to electricity by 2030 remains a major challenge which cannot be left to the government initiatives alone. Access to local information and identification of potential areas for investment can be a challenge for investors. This paper provides a tool for preliminary assessment of potential markets for off-grid electrification in developing countries and applies this to Ghana to demonstrate its applicability. A multi-criteria approach is used to rank the districts according to the overall potential and the best markets and least favourable areas for investment are identified. The tool offers flexibility to include new inputs to the analysis and the factor weights can be adjusted as appropriate. The case study shows that the tool can effectively identify potential areas from a list of candidates and offers support to analysts.     

A sizing methodology based on Levelized Cost of Supplied and Lost Energy for off-grid rural electrification systems

Off-grid renewable systems can play a pivotal role in the process of rural electrification, thus promoting local development. Moreover, scientific literature is increasingly addressing this issue through the concept of sustainability and appropriate technologies. With regards to this topic, we present a sizing methodology which better relates the results and the sizing process itself to the local context. Specifically, we address the research area of sizing methodologies for off-grid PV systems. Typically, the Loss of Load Probability (LLP) is a key parameter in these methodologies, but is difficult to set as regards the specific context. The proposed methodology employs the concept of Levelized Cost of Supplied and Lost Energy, it is based on the estimate of an economic Value of Lost Load, and eventually, the LLP results to be an output of the process. Therefore, the methodology uses only data characterizing the local situation and results better fit with population conditions. We also propose a simple approach to compute the Value of Lost Load and we apply the methodology for a rural area of Uganda. The results show that the methodology identifies a reliable system which supplies electricity with a fair cost while minimizing the energy bill of the consumers.     

Solar decomposition of fossil fuels as an option for sustainability

This paper presents an overview on solar-thermal decomposition of fossil fuels as a viable option for transition path from today's permanent dependency on fossil fuels to tomorrow's solar fuels via solar thermochemical technology. The paper focuses on the thermochemical hydrogen generation technologies from concentrated solar energy and gives an assessment of the recent advancements in the hydrogen producing solar reactors. The advantages and obstacles of hydrogen generation via solar cracking and solar reforming are presented along with some discussions on the feasibility of industrial scaling of these technologies. Solar cracking and solar reforming processes are discussed as promising hybrid solar/fossil technologies to take considerable share during transition from fossil fuel dependency to clean energy based sustainability.     

Induction stoves as an option for clean cooking in rural India

As part of a programme on ‘access to clean cooking alternatives in rural India’, induction stoves were introduced in nearly 4000 rural households in Himachal Pradesh, one of the few highly electrified states in India. Analysis of primary usage information from 1000 rural households revealed that electricity majorly replaced Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), generally used as a secondary cooking fuel, but did not influence a similar shift from traditional mud stoves as the primary cooking technology. Likewise, the shift from firewood to electricity as a primary cooking fuel was observed in only 5% of the households studied. Country level analysis indicates that rural households falling in lower monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) classes have lesser access to electricity and clean cooking options than those falling in higher MPCE classes. Again, only three states in India with high levels of rural household electrification report consumption statuses more than 82 kWh per month (the estimated mean for electricity consumption by induction stoves). Overall, the results of the study indicate that induction stoves will have limited potential in reducing the consumption of firewood and LPG if included in energy access programmes, that too only in regions where high levels of electrification exist.     

Assessment of instruments in facilitating investment in off-grid renewable energy projects

Renewable off-grid solution plays a critical role in supporting rural electrification. However, off-grid Renewable Energy (OGRE) project financing faces significant challenges due to limited financing access, low affordability of consumers, high transactions costs and etc. Various supporting instruments have been implemented to facilitate OGRE investment. This study assesses the effectiveness of those instruments with a framework consists of three dimensions: feasibility, sustainability and replicability. The weights of each dimension in the framework and the scores of each instrument are assessed by expert surveys based on the Delphi method. It is suggested that all the three dimensions should be taken into consideration while assessing the instruments, among which feasibility and sustainability are considered as the most important dimensions in the assessment framework. Furthermore, the top-5 most effective instruments in facilitating OGRE investment are local engagement in operation and maintenance, loan guarantee, start-up grant, end user financing, and concessional finance. Developing countries that need to increase electrification, such as most of the ASEAN member states, could use these top scored instruments despite of their limited amount of public finance.     

Power-to-gas as an option for improving energy self-consumption in renewable energy communities

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) have been introduced by the Renewable Energy European Directive (REDII) in order to allow their members to collectively produce, consume, store and sell renewable energy. With the distributed generation deployment, the electricity injection into power grids has to be limited. Thereby, the RES management has to maximise the local energy self-consumption (SC). The present work deals with Power-to-Gas (PtG) application for blending hydrogen in the local gas grid for maximising the energy-SC, comparing it with traditional electric batteries (PtP). Moreover, this study investigate how SC-based tariffs for RECs can represent an indirect incentive for hydrogen production. To do so, a case study, consisting of 200 dwellings, has been analysed. Four PV configuration have been considered for evaluating different RES excess conditions. PtP and PtG systems have been implemented and compared each other. The hydrogen production cost has been assessed exploiting the renewable electricity incentive scheme.     

Photovoltaic systems: A cost competitive option to supply energy to off-grid agricultural communities in arid regions

The main objective of this work is to investigate the economic feasibility of photovoltaic technology to supply the entire energy demands to off-grid irrigated-farming-based communities in the arid regions. This aims at helping these communities to find practical solutions to cope with the rapid rising electricity generation costs, mainly by diesel generators (gensets). The genset electricity costs are typically affected by the high fossil fuel prices, the fuel transport costs and the intensive operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements. The work was conducted on a representative site from which conclusions could be drawn for similar regions. The case study was performed in the New Kalabsha Village in the Lake Nasser Region (LNR) in southern Egypt.     

The feasibility of renewable energies at an off-grid community in Canada

Three renewable energy technologies (RETs) were analyzed for their feasibility for a small off-grid research facility dependent on diesel for power and propane for heat. Presently, the electrical load for this facility is 115 kW but a demand side management (DSM) energy audit revealed that 15–20% reduction was possible. Downsizing RETs and diesel engines by 15 kW to 100 kW reduces capital costs by $27 000 for biomass, $49 500 for wind and $136 500 for solar.The RET Screen International 4.0^® model compared the economical and environmental costs of generating 100 kW of electricity for three RETs compared to the current diesel engine (0 cost) and a replacement ($160/kW) diesel equipment. At all costs from $0.80 to $2.00/l, biomass combined heat and power (CHP) was the most competitive. At $0.80 per liter, biomass’ payback period was 4.1 years with a capital cost of $1800/kW compared to wind's 6.1 years due to its higher initial cost of $3300/kW and solar's 13.5 years due to its high initial cost of $9100/kW. A biomass system would reduce annual energy costs by $63 729 per year, and mitigate GHG emissions by over 98% to 10 t CO₂ from 507 t CO₂. Diesel price increases to $1.20 or $2.00/l will decrease the payback period in years dramatically to 1.8 and 0.9 for CHP, 3.6 and 1.8 for wind, and 6.7 and 3.2 years for solar, respectively.     

Coal as an option for power generation in U.S. territories of the Pacific

General considerations relating to the use of coal in U.S. territories and trust territories of the Pacific suggest that coal is a viable option for power generation. Future coal supplies, principally from Australia and the west coast of America, promise to be more than adequate, but the large bulk carriers (100,000–200,000 dwt) expected to serve Far Eastern markets will probably not be able to land coal directly in the territories because of inadequate port facilities. Hence, smaller than Panamax-class vessels (60,000 dwt) or some arrangement utilizing self-loading barges or lighters would have to be used. Except for Guam, with peak power requirements on the order of 175 MW_e, most territories have current, albeit inadequate, installations of 1–25 MW_e. Turnkey, conventional-coal-fired, electrical-power generating systems are available in that size range. Fluidized bed combustion is another option currently being commercialized. Its use has clear environmental advantages and a variety of fuels (e.g. coal, heavy oils, biomass, etc.) may be employed without interruption of power generation. U.S. environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act, are now applicable to Guam and American Samoa; the trust territories are exempt. When United Nations trusteeship terminates, the current unclear position of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas will cease and the laws will probably apply. Nonetheless, the small power requirements of many small islands will qualify for exemption from the New Source Performance Standards called for in the Clean Air Act.The principal problems with coal use in the territories, apart from the shallow draft of most harbors, are the limited amount of land available and the high capital costs associated with conversion. Ocean dumping of ash and sludge can be permitted under existing Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and barge-mounted power installations are not out of the question. The feasibility of converting from oil-fired to coal-fired electrical-power generating systems must be determined with site-specific information.