Monday, May 21, 2012


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.


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