Towards clean energy: Design and integration strategy of photovoltaics for residential electrification

Abstract

Rapid global population growth and rising energy demands are causing environmental damage, particularly in developing countries dealing with climate change, pollution, and fuel shortages. Adopting cleaner, more sustainable energy sources could be one solution to this problem. In the context of hybrid energy systems, one proposition is to incorporate renewables into residential developments. This manuscript proposes a grid-connected hybrid (GCH) photovoltaic (PV) system for residential electrification in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and evaluates the technical feasibility. The proposed design includes four scenarios for PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS). The primary goals of the assessment include lowering net present cost (NPC), cost of energy (COE), and unmet load, as well as reducing grid dependence, lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and providing grid support. Solar irradiation fluctuations, demand variations, and voltage sag are all factors to consider when evaluating technical feasibility. The four cases were simulated using hybrid optimization with HOMER Pro, to achieve a system that maximizes renewable energy utilization. The analysis concludes that the GCH PV system is best suited for residential power needs, with lower COE, NPC, and grid dependency. The system achieves a COE of $0.0643/kWh, lowers GHG emissions, and attains a renewable fraction of 40%. Technical feasibility is verified using MATLAB-Simulink simulations at the point of common coupling (PCC), which include solar irradiation variations, active and reactive power adjustments based on demand, and voltage sag analysis for grid integration. The proposed system is cost-effective, convenient, and sustainable, with few salvageable components.