Decentralized Power Generation using Renewable Energy Resources: Scope, Relevance and Application

Abstract

Decentralized energy model successfully helps rural villages when it comes to supply of electricity because it’s a schematic way of utilization of renewable resources with decrease in the amount of GHG emissions whereas national electricity grid does not provide a solution to the problems faced by rural areas. Renewable energy sources can be use as standalone or in a combination of different resources like solar photovoltaic, biogas system, biomass system, micro-hydro and wind turbines known as hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) with a diesel generator as per the load demand and availability of the resources, which also protects our earth by remarkably decreasing the pollution caused by carbon emissions that we produce. The paper presents a review of various case studies on off-grid electricity generation which can be distinguished on the parameters like Cost of energy (COE), Net present cost (NPC), Levelized cost of energy (LCOE), Levelized unit electricity cost (LUEC), Per unit electricity cost (PUEC) and Life cycle cost (LCC) with respect to grid-connected systems and extension of grid. The paper also details the different initiatives taken by the government of Rajasthan to encourage off-grid generation in Rajasthan. The main motive of this work is to present an efficient hybrid technology combination from a blend of renewable energy resources for electricity generation to meet the electrical need of an off-grid village which is cost-efficient, sustainable, techno-economically feasible and environment friendly