Optimizing PV Microgrid Isolated Electrification Projects—A Case Study in Ecuador

Bruno Domenech, Laia Ferrer-Martí, Facundo García, Georgina Hidalgo, Rafael Pastor and Antonin Ponsich
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Bruno Domenech: Supply Chain and Operations Management Research Group, Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Laia Ferrer-Martí: Supply Chain and Operations Management Research Group, Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Facundo García: Catalan Association of Engineering Without Borders, 08027 Barcelona, Spain
Georgina Hidalgo: Catalan Association of Engineering Without Borders, 08027 Barcelona, Spain
Rafael Pastor: Supply Chain and Operations Management Research Group, Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Antonin Ponsich: Supply Chain and Operations Management Research Group, Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

Mathematics, 2022, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-24

Abstract: Access to electricity for the rural and indigenous population of Ecuador’s Amazon Region (RAE) is considered a critical issue by the national authorities. The RAE is an isolated zone with communities scattered throughout the rainforest, where the expansion of the national grid is not a viable option. Therefore, autonomous electrification systems based on solar energy constitute an important solution, allowing the development of indigenous populations. This work proposes a tool for the design of stand-alone rural electrification systems based on photovoltaic technologies, including both microgrid or individual supply configurations. This tool is formulated as a Mixed Integer Linear Programming model including economic, technical and social aspects. This approach is used to design electrification systems (equipment location and sizing, microgrid configurations) in three real communities of the RAE. The results highlight the benefits of the developed tool and provide guidelines regarding RAE’s electrification.

Keywords: rural electrification; mathematical programming; Ecuador’s Amazon region; photovoltaic energy; microgrid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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