Techno-Economic Design of a Stand-Alone Photovoltaic System for a Rural Community in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Cristhian A.Apolo Apolo1,Luis I.Minchala-Avila2,Pedro J.Franco Marques3
Citation :Cristhian A.Apolo Apolo,Luis I.Minchala-Avila,Pedro J.Franco Marques, Techno-Economic Design of a Stand-Alone Photovoltaic System for a Rural Community in the Ecuadorian Amazon International Journal of Research Studies in Electrical and Electronics Engineering 2017,3(2) : 32-41
Providing universal access to electricity is a worldwide priority. Renewable Energy Sources (RES) play an important role in the supply of energy to remote areas, where grid electricity is not feasible or the cost of the grid extension is large. Photovoltaic Home Systems (PVHS) are typically used to provide electricity to the dwellings in off-grid rural communities. However, Centralized Photovoltaic Systems(CPVS) with their own Distribution Network (DN) is also being considered as an alternative for rural electrification. This paper analyzes these two options of electrical supply to provide energy to the rural community Yuwints in the Amazon region of Ecuador. The most suitable system is selected after a comparison of the Net Present Cost (NPC) of various renewable systems, e.g.PV-battery systems, Wind-battery systems, PV-Wind-battery systems, etc. The techno-economic analysis is carried out through the microgrid optimization Homer Energy software. The result of the present study proposes the CPVS as the best option to provide electrical supply for the community, allowing a full coverage of the load and guaranteeing a secure operation of the system.