Techno-economic-environmental and sociological study of a microgrid for the electrification of difficult un-electrified isolated villages

Abstract

The need for electrification of un-electrified locations is usually met through the grid extension. However, it is not a cost-effective solution for difficult geographical regions. This gap of grid extension can be met through distributed generation, which can be renewable or non-renewable generation systems. However, non-renewable generation systems have a greenhouse effect, which has a hazardous effect on the environment and the native community. This study proposes a microgrid with the most suitable combination of the renewable energy system (RES) for electrification of un-electrified locations in difficult geographical conditions such as in the northeastern parts of India. Four RESs, with standalone and hybrid configurations, are compared for finding the optimal configuration of power plants. Moreover, the social impact of different power plants, carbon emission reduction by their establishment, and grid extension options are studied for the overall acceptance of the power plant by the native community and economic viability for investors.