Integration and Optimization of Renewables and Storages for Rural Electrification

Morris Brenna, Federica Foiadelli, Michela Longo and Tamrat Demllie Abegaz
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Morris Brenna: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa, 34, 20156 Milano, Italy
Federica Foiadelli: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa, 34, 20156 Milano, Italy
Michela Longo: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa, 34, 20156 Milano, Italy
Tamrat Demllie Abegaz: Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa, 34, 20156 Milano, Italy

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: The electricity access in Sub-Saharan African countries is below 10%; thus, introducing a microgrid for rural electrification can overcome the endemic lack of modern electricity access that hampers the provision of basic services such as education, healthcare, safety, economic and social growth for rural communities. This work studies different possible comparison methods considering variations such as land area required, location for the storage, efficiency, availability and reliability of energy resources, and technology cost variability (investment cost and levelized cost of electricity), which are among the major key parameters used to assess the best possible utilization of renewables and storage system, either using them in the form of integrated, hybrid or independent systems. The study is carried out largely with the help of the Micropower optimization modeling simulator called HOMER for Ethiopia. As a result, the study proposes the use of Photovoltaic (PV)–Wind–Hydro–Battery hybrid system model that concludes the optimal configuration of power systems at affordable price for underserved rural communities.

Keywords: renewable energy; photovoltaic system; storage system; fuel cell (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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