Unveiling mega-prosumers for sustainable electricity generation in a developing country with techno-economic and emission analysis

Abstract

In response to the urgent climate crisis, there is a growing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. This research aims to explore the possibility of enhancing renewable energy production in Bangladesh by installing photovoltaic (PV) systems on the rooftops of 30 universities to fulfill the sustainable development goal-7 (SDG-7). Helioscope is used for planning the deployment of PV systems while DIgSILENT PowerFactory is utilized for analyzing their impact on the grid. Site selection and data collection are conducted considering energy consumption and solar potential at different universities in Bangladesh. The results indicate that 29.5 MW (approximately) of power could be generated from approximately 84,295 solar panels rated at 350 W, producing about 43 GWh of electricity annually. Technical assessments on grid stability demonstrate that PV integration significantly reduces grid dependency and enhances voltage security. Economic analyses reveal that the proposed PV project is cost-effective compared to existing power plants, considering all relevant expenses. Furthermore, there is a reduction in CO2 emissions due to this project of 890.72 tons, per year, which translates to an emission factor of approximately 0.608 kg of CO2-eq/kWh. In particular, this study endorses the use of rooftop solar PV systems for universities in Bangladesh as mega-prosumers to promote sustainability and increase energy consumption, demonstrating their technical, economic, and environmental feasibility.