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

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  • Nishant Narayan

    (Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Ali Chamseddine

    (Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Victor Vega-Garita

    (Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Zian Qin

    (Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Jelena Popovic-Gerber

    (Klimop Energy, 7202 DD Zutphen, The Netherlands)

  • Pavol Bauer

    (Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Miroslav Zeman

    (Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Nishant Narayan & Ali Chamseddine & Victor Vega-Garita & Zian Qin & Jelena Popovic-Gerber & Pavol Bauer & Miroslav Zeman, 2019. "Quantifying the Benefits of a Solar Home System-Based DC Microgrid for Rural Electrification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:5:p:938-:d:212903
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Narayan, Nishant & Papakosta, Thekla & Vega-Garita, Victor & Qin, Zian & Popovic-Gerber, Jelena & Bauer, Pavol & Zeman, Miroslav, 2018. "Estimating battery lifetimes in Solar Home System design using a practical modelling methodology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1629-1639.
    2. Chaurey, A. & Kandpal, T.C., 2010. "A techno-economic comparison of rural electrification based on solar home systems and PV microgrids," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 3118-3129, June.
    3. Mikul Bhatia & Nicolina Angelou, 2014. "Capturing the Multi-Dimensionality of Energy Access," World Bank Publications - Reports 18677, The World Bank Group.
    4. Narayan, Nishant & Chamseddine, Ali & Vega-Garita, Victor & Qin, Zian & Popovic-Gerber, Jelena & Bauer, Pavol & Zeman, Miroslav, 2019. "Exploring the boundaries of Solar Home Systems (SHS) for off-grid electrification: Optimal SHS sizing for the multi-tier framework for household electricity access," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 907-917.
    5. Gustavsson, Mathias, 2007. "With time comes increased loads—An analysis of solar home system use in Lundazi, Zambia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 796-813.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wadim Strielkowski & Elena Volkova & Luidmila Pushkareva & Dalia Streimikiene, 2019. "Innovative Policies for Energy Efficiency and the Use of Renewables in Households," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Wen, Cheng & Lovett, Jon C. & Kwayu, Emmanuel J. & Msigwa, Consalva, 2023. "Off-grid households’ preferences for electricity services: Policy implications for mini-grid deployment in rural Tanzania," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    3. Nishant Narayan & Victor Vega-Garita & Zian Qin & Jelena Popovic-Gerber & Pavol Bauer & Miro Zeman, 2020. "The Long Road to Universal Electrification: A Critical Look at Present Pathways and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Olumide Hassan & Stephen Morse & Matthew Leach, 2020. "The Energy Lock-In Effect of Solar Home Systems: A Case Study in Rural Nigeria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-24, December.
    5. Thomas, P.J.M. & Sandwell, P. & Williamson, S.J. & Harper, P.W., 2021. "A PESTLE analysis of solar home systems in refugee camps in Rwanda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    6. Alejandro López-González & Bruno Domenech & Laia Ferrer-Martí, 2021. "Sustainability Evaluation of Rural Electrification in Cuba: From Fossil Fuels to Modular Photovoltaic Systems: Case Studies from Sancti Spiritus Province," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, April.

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