Feasibility Study and Design of Standalone Solar/Wind/Genset System for Rural Electrification (Case Study: Shenen Sillasie, Wonji Shoa)

Abstract

Now a days, Ethiopian government gives attention to rural electrification and Ethiopian Electric Power Utility company uses extension of grid and installation of diesel generator as option for rural villages. However, grid expansion to such areas is not practically possible due to their remoteness, sparse population, and low demand. The introductions of renewable energies for rural areas were the best option to overcome environmental and higher cost of fuel for generators and their operation and maintenance issues. In this study, the feasibility and design of standalone pv/wind/genset system for rural community of Shenen Sillasie has been simulated and optimized using HOMER software. The optimal design of a hybrid power system took into account the community's deferrable energy demand of 9.5Kwh/day with 1.6kw peak load as well as the primary energy demand of 516Kwh/day with 203Kw peak load. And also compares the hybrid system cost versus the grid expansion to electrify the village that is:- at the distance of 9.92km, which is the breakeven distance, the net present cost of expanding the grid is equal to the net present cost of a stand-alone system. The stand-alone system is best when used farther from the grid, and grid extension is best when used closer to the grid. Solar and wind energy are therefore regarded as primary sources for supplying electricity directly to loads and for charging battery banks when solar and wind energy generation is in excess. However, a diesel generator could also be used during periods of high load. By electrifying residential areas and the areas around them, the integration of the hybrid system aims to increase the sustainability of the power supply by lowering the demand for fossil fuels. The final result shows that the community needs a 50kw solar array, 2*250kw wind turbine, 25kw dieselgenerator, 200 units of S6CS25P batteries and 200kw converter with the best cost of energy 0.289$/kwh and the net present $543,884.