Assessment of Stand-Alone Residential Solar Photovoltaic Application in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study of Gambia

Sambu Kanteh Sakiliba,Edward Saja Sanneh,Jianzhong Wu,Sul Ademi,Abubakar Sani Hassan

doi:10.1155/2015/640327

Abstract

The focus of this paper is the design and implementation of solar PV deployment option, which is economical and easy to maintain for remote locations in less developed countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The feasibility of stand-alone solar PV systems as a solution to the unstable electricity supply and as an alternative to the conventional resource, “diesel generators,” is presented. Moreover, a design of a system is carried out, such that the electrical demand and site meteorological data of a typical household in the capital, Banjul, is simulated. Likewise, the life cycle cost analysis to assess the economic viability of the system, along with the solar home performance, is also presented. Such system will be beneficial to the inhabitants of Gambia by ensuring savings in fuel costs and by reducing carbon emissions produced by generators. The selection of appropriate-sized components is crucial, as they affect the lifetime, reliability, and initial costs. The design presented in this study represents a solution for domestic houses to adopt the system according to the location and environment, in order to meet electricity demand.

Highlights

In relation to the progress of a country, electricity is one of the elements required for agricultural, commercial, industrial, or residential development
The energy production ceases above 550 W, due to the constant operation of the array at temperatures above the Standard Test Condition (STC)
A complete computer simulation was undertaken to study the performance of an stand-alone solar PV systems (SSPVS) in a domestic house in Banjul

Summary

Introduction

In relation to the progress of a country, electricity is one of the elements required for agricultural, commercial, industrial, or residential development. The use of photovoltaics (PV) to produce electricity from sunlight would strongly benefit and improve the quality of life for those less developed countries such as Gambia. The decentralized approach based on power produced with locally available renewable energy resources is, for various reasons, gradually being recognized as a viable alternative in remote places of Gambia. This African country is making a considerable effort to provide electricity to rural and urban households generated from fossil fuel based resources, such as fuelwood and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), it has been a slow and ineffective process for many years [1]. Since 2007, power outages occur almost every day in Gambia, with an average duration of 6.86 hours [2]

Methods

Results

Conclusion