Techno-Economic-Environmental Assessment of an Isolated Rural Micro-Grid from a Mid-Career Repowering Perspective

Abdul Munim Rehmani, Syed Ali Abbas Kazmi, Abdullah Altamimi (), Zafar A. Khan and Muhammad Awais
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Abdul Munim Rehmani: US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), H-12, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Syed Ali Abbas Kazmi: US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), H-12, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Abdullah Altamimi: Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Zafar A. Khan: Department of Electrical Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Mirpur 10250, Pakistan
Muhammad Awais: College of Engineering and Physical sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-35

Abstract: Pakistan is an energy deficient country with depleting energy reserves and increasing energy demand. Due to excessive population growth, the domestic and commercial energy sectors are experiencing rising demand. To meet the requisite demand, renewables are favored rather than conventional counterparts. In this study, we model hybrid power systems using solar, wind and biomass resources for electrifying remote areas. The four locations are chosen for the study around a developing country, Pakistan, where each site is designed according to an isolated microgrid with maximum indigenous resources potential as per the requisite demands. A survey is conducted for the load demand and biomass availability. Optimization is conducted across objectives of minimum levelized cost of the generated energy, least the net present cost and lesser payback period. The optimal results were achieved in-terms of required objectives across southern sites as compared to northern counterparts. The cost of generated energy is comparable to grid electricity and ensures 24 h power supply without cut off and load shedding to the un-electrified rural area. The hybrid power system has a low carbon footprint across emissions due to the use of renewable resources. All the estimated load of rural communities is met with the available resources and mid-career impact has also been conducted across 10 years of the project life to fulfill the increasing load demand of the communities after installation. The results are validated via comparative analysis and show the effectiveness of the proposed study.

Keywords: hybrid renewable energy system; micro-grid; net present cost; payback period; rural electrification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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