Quantifying the Benefits of a Solar Home System-Based DC Microgrid for Rural Electrification

Abstract

Off-grid solar home systems (SHSs) currently constitute a major source of providing basic electricity needs in un(der)-electrified regions of the world, with around 73 million households having benefited from off-grid solar solutions by 2017. However, in and of itself, state-of-the-art SHSs can only provide electricity access with adequate power supply availability up to tier 2, and to some extent, tier 3 levels of the Multi-tier Framework (MTF) for measuring household electricity access. When considering system metrics of loss of load probability (LLP) and battery size, meeting the electricity needs of tiers 4 and 5 is untenable through SHSs alone. Alternatively, a bottom-up microgrid composed of interconnected SHSs is proposed. Such an approach can enable the so-called climb up the rural electrification ladder. The impact of the microgrid size on the system metrics like LLP and energy deficit is evaluated. Finally, it is found that the interconnected SHS-based microgrid can provide more than 40% and 30% gains in battery sizing for the same LLP level as compared to the standalone SHSs sizes for tiers 4 and 5 of the MTF, respectively, thus quantifying the definite gains of an SHS-based microgrid over standalone SHSs. This study paves the way for visualizing SHS-based rural DC microgrids that can not only enable electricity access to the higher tiers of the MTF with lower battery storage needs but also make use of existing SHS infrastructure, thus enabling a technologically easy climb up the rural electrification ladder.

The Long Road to Universal Electrification: A Critical Look at Present Pathways and Challenges

“…This concept has seen multiple proponents in recent literature [47,48]. However, the existing projects in practice are mostly limited to tiers 1 to 2 with 12 V battery and 12 V distribution [32]. In order to enable higher tiers of consumption, such microgrids need to make use of higher voltage distribution as it minimizes distribution losses [49].…”

“…In order to enable higher tiers of consumption, such microgrids need to make use of higher voltage distribution as it minimizes distribution losses [49]. The quantification of benefits from these microgrids was detailed by the authors of this article in a recent publication [32].…”

“…Load variance. Higher load variance can be achieved through microgrids as multiple households are connected [32]. This leads to the added benefit of better use of the installed resources, such as PV and battery, provided the given levels of load consumption are commensurate with the installed power capacity.…”

Innovative Policies for Energy Efficiency and the Use of Renewables in Households

“…In a way, these citizens have their own responsibility for the energy-efficient future.Luckily, the increased usage of the renewable energy is caused mainly by the popularity of the solar and wind energy which is strengthened by the technological progress (e.g., interconnection, better exploitation of the existing hydro storage, improving the existing battery technologies, and applying smart meters for monitoring and altering consumer behaviour) [4].Solar PVs now constitute a significant source of supplying basic electricity demands in many underdeveloped areas of the world. In 2017, approximately 73 million households in these regions profited from off-grid solar alternatives [5,6].However, in order to achieve sustainable potential, generated and consumed energy must encourage human growth in all its social, environmental, and economic dimensions. Issues associated with environment and energy shortages have set all groups to the job of actively encouraging instruction in energy conservation [7].…”

“…Solar PVs now constitute a significant source of supplying basic electricity demands in many underdeveloped areas of the world. In 2017, approximately 73 million households in these regions profited from off-grid solar alternatives [5,6].…”