IntiGIS-Local: A Geospatial Approach to Assessing Rural Electrification Alternatives for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development in Isolated Communities—A Case Study of Guasasa, Cuba

Javier Domínguez (), Carlo Bellini, Luis Arribas, Julio Amador, Mirelys Torres-Pérez and Ana M. Martín
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Javier Domínguez: Renewable Energies Division, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Carlo Bellini: Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
Luis Arribas: Renewable Energies Division, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Julio Amador: Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Department of Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Automation and Applied Physics, School of Industrial Engineering and Design, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Mirelys Torres-Pérez: Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Department of Informatics, University of Las Tunas, Las Tunas 75100, Cuba
Ana M. Martín: Renewable Energies Division, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-37

Abstract: Rural electrification is a crucial step for the socio-economic development of isolated communities. Decentralized power generation, typically more favorable for renewable energies, requires an accurate analysis of the different electrification options, whose convenience depends on multiple factors. The application of Geographical Information Systems (GISs) to energy planning allows the assessment at a local level, considering the variability and demand distribution of spatial resources. This work introduces IntiGIS-local, a GIS-based model implemented in the ArcGIS environment, designed to calculate the levelized energy cost (LEC) for different electrification options. The model allows the comparison between three power generation alternatives: solar system, diesel generator set and solar–diesel hybrid system. Configurations are adjustable through input variables, with a special focus on the confrontation between individual systems and microgrids. The objective is to provide an adequate groundwork for developing a decision-making tool to assess diverse rural electrification options in future studies. The model IntiGIS-local is tested in the case study of the Guasasa community (Cuba).

Keywords: renewable energy; hybrid systems; PV; rural electrification; microgrid; GIS; spatial analysis; mapping; geo-modelization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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