OFF-GRID ELECTRICITY GENERATION with Renewable Energy Technologies in India;

ROHIT SEN   

ABSTRACT

Since the last decade, Off-Grid rural electrification with the help of renewable energy 

sources (RES) has become a cost-effective and convenient option for areas where grid 

connection is neither available nor feasible in the near future. A hybrid combination of 

Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) is  generally considered to be the best suited 

alternative to an expensive grid extension for remote areas around the world. This 

dissertation focuses on creating a model for electricity generation from a mix of 

renewable resources to satisfy the electrical needs of an off-grid remote village, Palari 

in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. Applying HOMER software, this study presents an 

analysis for choosing the best hybrid RET system and then compares it with 

conventional grid extension. Firstly, the load demand pattern of the village over 

different seasons is studied and suitably modelled. With the help of  HOMER  

simulations, the optimized sizing of Small-Hydro power (SHP), wind turbine generator, 

solar photovoltaic’s (SPV) and Biodiesel Generator (BDG) systems is obtained. On the 

basis of minimized cost of energy (COE) generation obtained, HOMER  then calculates 

the Economical Distance Limit (EDL), that is the relation between a  RET system’s 

lifecycle cost (LCC) and the cost of an extension from the existing grid allowing to 

determine the distance where the use of the former method is more cost-effective.

The solution obtained shows that the use of decentralised RET systems at an Off-grid 

location is the best alternative to grid extension. HOMER results show that the solution 

is sustainable and techno-economically viable and environmentally sound. The hybrid 

RET system selected by HOMER for this village scenario from the various other 

prospective combinations of the sensitivity analysis was a combination of SHP,  SPV, BDG and Batteries having a COE generation of $0.420/kWh and giving an EDL of -2kms, 

which means that this hybrid RET system is cost-effective even in areas where the grid connection would be possible.