Electricity In Remote Areas Research Articles

Advancing Economical and Environmentally Conscious Electrification: A Comprehensive Framework for Microgrid Design in Off‐Grid Regions

AbstractThe design of renewable energy systems traditionally emphasizes life cycle costs, often focusing primarily on emissions rather than a comprehensive life cycle impact assessment. This research proposes a four‐tier methodology to balance cost‐effectiveness and sustainability in the electrification of remote areas. Tier 1 focuses on understanding the community context by analyzing electrical load profiles, meteorological data, and component specifications for microgrid design. Tier 2 evaluates the feasibility of various systems, optimizing them through cost analysis and Multi‐Criteria Decision‐Making (MCDM) to rank alternatives. Tier 3 assesses environmental impacts using life cycle assessment, ranking alternatives based on environmental criteria. Tier 4 integrates cost and environmental rankings to determine the most suitable energy configurations, followed by sensitivity analysis to ensure robust decision‐making. The methodology is validated through a case study of an unelectrified remote community, demonstrating that the PV‐Wind Turbine‐Biomass Generator‐Converter configuration is the most robust alternative, proving to be the optimal choice in 50% of the analyzed scenarios, achieving a Cost of Energy of 0.213 USD/kWh while minimizing environmental impact across all 18 criteria considered over a 25‐year life cycle. This novel framework offers a scalable approach to designing renewable energy systems, enhancing sustainable electrification efforts in developing regions.

PV Based Microgrid for Remote Area Electrification in Nigeria: A Systematic Review of Concepts and Extant Strategies

Centralized power generation, transmission and distribution system operations in Nigeria can no longer deliver affordable and reliable electricity to remote households, both on and off the national grid. Therefore, a balanced approach, through renewable energy generation is the best option that would potentially lead accelerated journey to full electrification in the country. Renewable energy has become a panacea to energy problems worldwide because it is clean, environmentally friendly and ultimately cheaper. Due to the massive capacity of Nigeria to generate electricity from its numerous green energy resources, it has become crystal clear that access to sustainable and reliable energy in Nigeria is required for proper economic and social development. This work is based on an extensive review of recent experiences of more than 120 papers covering mostly the off-grid PV sector in the past 15years. The review included: scientific journals, conference papers, (PhD) theses, books and scientific reports from governments/NGOs and publications from energy institutions. A comprehensive review of relevant concepts and current microgrids optimization strategies applied to sizing, siting, load estimation and energy management has been conducted. Future research directions and potential of PV based microgrids for rural electrification have equally been specified.

Optimizing solar power efficiency in smart grids using hybrid machine learning models for accurate energy generation prediction

The fourth energy revolution is characterized by the incorporation of renewable energy supplies into intelligent networks. As the world is shifting towards cleaner energy sources, there is a need for efficient and reliable methods to predict the output of renewable energy plants. Hybrid machine learning modified models are emerging as a promising solution for energy generation prediction. Renewable energy generation plants, such as solar, biogas, hydropower plants, wind farms, etc. are becoming increasingly popular due to their environmental benefits. However, their output can be highly variable and dependent on weather conditions, making integrating them into the existing energy grid challenging. Smart grids with artificial intelligent systems have the potential to solve this challenge by using real-time data to optimize energy production and distribution. Although by incorporating sensors, analytics, and automation, these grids can manage energy demand and supply more efficiently, reducing carbon emissions, increase energy security, and improve access to electricity in remote areas. However, this research aims to enhance the efficiency of solar power generation systems in a smart grid context using machine learning hybrid models such as Hybrid Convolutional-Recurrence Net (HCRN), Hybrid Convolutional-LSTM Net (HCLN), and Hybrid Convolutional-GRU Net (HCGRN). For this purpose, this study considers various parameters of a solar plant such as power production (MWh), irradiance or plane of array (POA), and performance ratio (PR). The HCLN model demonstrates superior accuracy with the RMSE values of 0.012027 for MWh, 0.013734 for POA and 0.003055 for PR, along with the lowest MAE values of 0.069523 for MWh, 0.082813 for POA, and 0.042815 for PR. The obtained results suggest that the proposed machine learning models can effectively enhance the efficiency of solar power generation systems by accurately predicting the required measurements.

Optimal design of a hybrid energy system considering techno-economic factors for off-grid electrification in remote areas

Optimal design of a hybrid energy system considering techno-economic factors for off-grid electrification in remote areas

Off-Grid Electrification Using Renewable Energy in the Philippines: A Comprehensive Review

Universal access to electricity is beneficial for the socio-economic development of a country and the development of smart communities. Unfortunately, the electrification of remote off-grid areas, especially in developing countries, is rather slow due to geographic and economic barriers. In the Philippines, specifically, many electrified off-grid areas are underserved, with access to electricity being limited to only a few hours a day. This is mainly due to the high dependence on diesel power plants (DPPs) for electrifying these areas. To address these problems, hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) have been considered good electrification alternatives and have been extensively studied for their techno-economic and financial feasibility for Philippine off-grid islands. In this work, articles published from 2012 to 2023 focusing on off-grid Philippine rural electrification were reviewed and classified based on their topic. The taxonomical analysis of collected studies shows that there is a saturation of works focusing on the technical and economic aspects of off-grid electrification. Meanwhile, studies focusing on environmental and socio-political factors affecting HRES off-grid electrification are lagging. A bibliographic analysis of the reviewed articles also showed that there is still a lack of a holistic approach in studying off-grid electrification in the Philippines. There are only a few works that extend beyond the typical techno-economic study. Research works focusing on environmental and socio-political factors are also mainly isolated and do not cross over with technical papers. The gap between topic clusters should be addressed in future works on off-grid electrification.

Accuracy Evaluation of Monte Carlo Simulation Results Using ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JENDL-5 Libraries for 10 MWth Micro Heat Pipe-Cooled Reactor

The micro heat pipe-cooled reactor is an innovative type of reactor that utilizes heat pipes to cool its core. It consists of a reactor core, an energy conversion system, shielding, and a heat removal system. This reactor shows great potential as a viable option for supplying electricity in remote areas. By incorporating a monolithic core with heat pipes and an efficient heat conversion system, this reactor design eliminates the need for a main pipeline, circulating pump, and auxiliary equipment, resulting in a cost-effective, compact, and transportable system. The monolithic reactor design has undergone significant advancements in neutronics and thermal hydraulics. This article focuses on evaluating the impact of the latest released nuclear data libraries, ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JENDL-5, on calculated neutronics and kinetics parameters. The total keff uncertainty was propagated and found to be significant for both recently evaluated nuclear data libraries (678.52 pcm for ENDF/B-VIII.0 and 525.91 pcm for JENDL-5, respectively). The total uncertainty originated from nuclear data was evaluated for total ν, reaction cross sections, and angular distributions in the case of JENDL-5, and for ENDF/B-VIII.0, uncertainty from angular distributions was not included because of the unavailability of its multigroup structure covariance matrices. The results reveal that the largest contributor for ENDF/B-VIII.0 is 235U total (409.18 pcm), while that for JENDL-5 is 56Fe capture cross section (361.93 pcm). For the kinetic parameter’s uncertainty, the impact on the total βeff, leff, and λeff simulation results was found to be not significant (about 1%).

Investigation of the potential for electrification of remote areas using parabolic solar collectors in southern Algeria

The dish stirling technology holds great promise as a renewable energy solution for remote and off-grid electric regions, particularly in the southern areas of North Africa. In this research, we conducted simulations of a 100 kw Dish Stirling system to evaluate its feasibility in comparison to photovoltaic technology at five distinct locations in southern Algeria: Adrar (Bordj Badji Mokhtar), Illizi (Djanet), Tamanrasset (Ain Mertoutek), Tindouf, and Bechar. Our findings underscore the substantial potential of Dish Stirling Solar Power technology, with the Sahara region standing out as particularly promising. In this region, the Dish Stirling system consistently outperforms a 100 kw photovoltaic system across all selected locations. The Dish Stirling system achieves an average annual electricity generation of 256 mwh while simultaneously mitigating CO2 emissions by 177 tons annually. Among these locations, Djanet Illizi emerges as the most favorable, with the Dish Stirling system producing an impressive 288.43 mwh annually. This capacity is sufficient to meet the annual energy needs of 230 households, all while maintaining a competitive LCOE of 0.0378 USD/kwh. Comparative analysis with previous research illuminates the remarkable cost-effectiveness of Dish Stirling technology in southern Algeria, primarily due to its abundant direct normal irradiance levels. These findings underscore the immense potential of Dish Stirling systems as a clean and highly efficient energy solution, well-suited for demanding to address the energy needs of remote environments, such as those found in the southern border regions of Algeria.

Sustainable rural electrification: small hydropower stations, electrification and rural welfare improvement in Tanzania

PurposeTanzania is rich in small hydropower (SHP) potentials. However, many of these potentials have yet to be fully used, and more than two-thirds of its rural population lacks access to electricity. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of SHP stations in improving rural welfare in the southern highlands of Tanzania. It further explores the history, cost-effective analysis and threats to the sustainability of SHP as one of the renewable energy sources.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a qualitative research design to explore respondents’ views on the role of SHP stations in facilitating rural electrification and welfare improvement. Primary data were gathered using semi-structured interviews with the 27 key informants and beneficiaries of SHP stations from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. In addition, the study used documentary research to complement the information from the field survey.FindingsThe findings found that SHP stations enhance rural electrification and welfare by providing electricity in remote areas with sparse populations. They operate as standalone off-grids, often by church communities and individuals. However, the sustainability of SHP stations is hampered by challenges such as climate change impacts, high capital investment costs, heavy siltation of small reservoirs, skilled manpower shortages, limited local manufacturing capabilities and infrastructural issues.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the ongoing debate on renewable energy supply and uses, focusing on how SHP stations could contribute to sustainable rural electrification and achieve the 2030 United Nations agenda for sustainable development, which, among other things, aims to safeguard access to sustainable and modern energy and alleviate energy poverty.

The Potential of Hydro Energy as the Renewable Energy Alternatives in the Rural Area

Hydro energy systems are broadly used around the world as renewable energy. The concept of hydro energy becomes the major energy alternative for fulfilling the energy demand, especially in the remotes area. The type of micro-hydro power was the most applicable to meet electricity purposes. Micro hydropower system proposes an environment friendly used because of easy to operate and low operation cost, especially in the area which high water availability. This review paper focuses on the potential of hydro energy systems that are built in remote areas. This review revealed three types of hydropower systems, namely mini-hydropower, small hydro power, and micro hydro power. Out of these three types, micro hydro power can become the solution for electrification in remote areas. Micro hydro power installation was built with many types of technological approaches. Nevertheless, considering geographical purposes, the capacity of energy production, and sustainability of resources. Yet, several obstacles should be aware of such as power availability in remote areas. The technical issue and government support become the key to success in applying hydropower in the site of installation. Otherwise, conventional fossil fuel-based systems which are costly and unsustainable may require due to the operating system of micro-hydro power as well

Continuous input current buck DC/DC converter for small-size wind energy systems featuring current sensorless MPPT control

For decentralized electrification in remote areas, small-sized wind energy systems (WESs) are considered sustainable and affordable solution when employing an efficient, small-sized component converter integrated with a less-sophisticated, cost-effective MPPT controller. Unfortunately, using a conventional buck DC/DC converter as a MPP tracker suffer from input current discontinuity. The latter results in high ripples in the tracked rectified wind power which reduces the captured power and affects system operation especially in standalone applications which are self-sufficient and independent of grid support. Furthermore, these ripples propagate to the machine side causing vibration and torque stress which impacts turbine performance and safety. To solve this issue, a large electrolytic capacitor is placed at the buck converter input to buffer these ripples, yet at the cost of larger size, losses and reduced reliability. Oppositely, the developed C1, D4 and D6 buck converters have the merit of continuous input current at small component-size. In this paper, dynamic modelling of these three converters is developed to select the one with the least input current ripples to replace the traditional buck converter in the considered WES system. Consequently, fluctuations in the tracked power are minimized and the large buffer capacitor is eliminated. This enhances system lifetime, reduces its cost and increases tracking efficiency. Moreover, mechanical power and torque fluctuations are minimized, thus maintaining machine protection. Furthermore, a sensorless MPPT algorithm, based on converter averaged state-space model, is proposed. Being dependent on variable-step P&O algorithm, the proposed approach features simple structure, ease of control and a compromise between tracking time and accuracy besides reduced cost due to the eliminated current sensor. Simulation results verified the effectiveness of the selected converter applying the proposed MPPT approach to efficiently track the wind power under wind variations with cost-effective realization.

Justice Energy as Formulation Equalization Electricity

The management and use of energy, including electricity, in Indonesia addresses three aspects: energy security (ensuring national electricity demand and future sustainability) and energy equity, ie increases and decreases in availability/electrification levels). The electrification ratio should highlight the use of electricity beyond lighting and measure how far electricity boosts people's economies, energy activists say. At least 500,000 households in Indonesia did not have access to electricity until May 2021, according to government data. The majority of them live in remote or outermost villages. This paper will examine 2 (two) things that become problem formulation, namely, first, how is the concept of energy justice in terms of electricity in remote areas? and How is Energy Justice as a Concept of Electricity Equity. Rural electricity program policy aims to expand access to electricity in areas that have not been reached by electric power distribution networks in rural areas. Ecological justice is concerned with the distribution of the environment among various forms of life. Ecological justice is a theoretical approach derived from established environmental justice theory and practice. Environmental justice bases its principles on three main dimensions: distribution, recognition, and participation.

Optimization and techno-economic analysis of hybrid renewable energy systems for the electrification of remote areas

The welfare of the villages is one of the primary objectives of the rural electrification programmes. Compared to electrifying urban regions, electrifying rural areas is more expensive. Energy requirements in rural areas can be met using hybrid energy technologies. This study proposes a cost-effective power solution to reduce the net present cost (NPC), cost of energy (COE), unmet loads and CO2 emissions. Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) and Homer Pro are used to optimize the size of the components of the system. The combination of solar, wind and biogas with a battery storage system is cost-effective with zero unmet loads. Of the three combinations considered, the values of COE and NPC for combination-1 were 0.156 ($/kWh) and $2.05 M respectively. The comparative analysis of optimization between the GWO technique and Homer Pro carried out shows that the value of COE and NPC are reduced by 5.45% and 3.30% respectively.

Implementation of innovative technologies in Kazakhstan: A case of the energy sector

The implementation of innovative renewable energy projects is designed to meet the growing electricity demand and reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. In order to avoid resource dependence of the economy and meet the demand for electricity in remote areas of Kazakhstan, the development of renewable energy sources is urgent. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of the implementation of existing mechanisms for the implementation of innovative renewable energy projects through auctions. Moreover, it identifies their shortcomings and offers proposals for improvement. The analysis uses data from the Kazakhstan Bureau of National Statistics on renewable energy sources, namely alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power plants, excluding biogas. The methodology provides for the assessment of projects implemented through auctions for 2018–2021, taking into account such indicators as the dynamics of the number of wind and solar energy projects, their capacity, the percentage of auction price reduction for a specific year. The paper discusses the mechanism for conducting auctions of solar and wind electricity, which, through the auction organizer, connects authorized bodies and investors. The main indicators of auctions for individual years are noted, and the main shortcomings of this mechanism are identified. The analysis of barriers to innovative renewable energy project implementation revealed the presence of contradictions in the price regulation of renewable electricity, the lack of market pricing mechanisms, and the unpreparedness of the energy infrastructure for integration with renewable sources. AcknowledgmentThis research is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP13268750).

Reference Framework Based on a Two-Stage Strategy for Sizing and Operational Management in Electrical Microgrid Planning

The challenges of today’s energy landscape, marked by the search for sustainable development, the expansion of coverage, and the diversification of the energy matrix, allow for electricity systems focusing on renewable energy resources. Microgrids are considered an efficient paradigm for managing distributed renewable energy generation and providing reliable access to electricity in remote areas where the grid has not been extended. However, their planning is a complex task that requires a thorough understanding of various multi-dimensional aspects and decision-making scenarios to define feasible and sustainable alternatives. In this context, this study presents a new planning framework based on a two-stage strategy. The strategy seeks to optimize the capacity of generation resources, considering the microgrid’s operational knowledge in various scenarios and aspects related to its sustainability. The framework was evaluated through a case of planning a microgrid for a remote community in Vaupés, Colombia, considering the local energy potential and demand requirements. Twenty optimized alternatives were identified based on the best compromise levels achieved for a set of performance criteria in the technical, economic, environmental, and social dimensions.

Resilience and reliable integration of PV-wind and hydropower based 100% hybrid renewable energy system without any energy storage system for inaccessible area electrification

Achieving sustainable development goals requires off-grid electrification of remote areas using sustainable energy systems (SES). However, capacity planning for SES is challenging due to the long-term need to meet fluctuating demand and the intermittent and unpredictable nature of renewable energy (RE) sources. The best system size for resilience and reliable load servicing of a 100% hybrid renewable energy system has been investigated in this study. The ideal system configuration for a hybrid solar PV, wind, and hydro energy system has been achieved by applying the multi objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) optimization technique to assess optimal size of the renewable energy system. The PV/Wind/Hydro system has the lowest NPC and COE with the best target capabilities among all the communities examined, provided the system lasts 25 years, according to the NPC study. The most ideal configuration (PV 88 kW, wind 18 kW, Hydro1 215 kW, and Hydro2 197 kW) investigated for deployment of hybrid power system at the specified site has NPC, total system cost, and energy cost of $163,238 and $517,141, respectively, and $0.35/kWh. Finally, the implementation of this innovative proposal demonstrated that reliable load serving is possible with 100% renewable energy without the use of an energy storage device.

From blackouts to breakthroughs: Examining electricity's relevance in healthcare during COVID-19 and the future role of renewable energy

Power supply played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic in keeping hospitals and critical medical equipment operating, which was quickly reflected in electricity consumption and new consumption patterns. However, not all countries faced the same challenges. While developed countries could react adequately to changes in hospital electricity consumption patterns, low-income countries faced infrastructure and energy access challenges during the pandemic, which hampered the management of the pandemic in all of its dimensions. This paper reviews the importance of power supply in hospitals through a literature review and divides the discussion into three sections. First, the factors influencing new hospital consumption patterns during the pandemic are discussed. Then, the consequences of the lack of electricity in remote areas on managing the pandemic are reviewed. Finally, the impact of the pandemic on the design of hybrid power generation systems is reviewed, which must not only provide autonomy for similar future scenarios but also be prepared to respond to sudden increases in power consumption due to a greater number of patients or longer working hours, an increase in the number of critical loads, and possible restrictions on access to fuel. Thus, this work provides valuable insights for policymakers, academics, and researchers on the importance of updating hospital power supply standards and contributes to demonstrating the need to electrify remote hospitals.

A feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis of an off-grid hybrid system for a remote area electrification

Off-grid power production utilizing renewable sources of power has become more significant and viable to meet the limited demands of remote locations. The primary goal of this study is to develop an economic and optimal hybrid PV/Biogas configuration for power production for rural common facilities, including one Primary school, Junior school, and Panchayat Ghar buildings of Sarai Jairam village in Uttar Pradesh, India. Data on the electric load was gathered for two schools and Panchayat Ghar. The PV/biogas hybrid configuration was designed utilizing the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER), and techno-economic analysis is carried out to fulfill the load requirements. The available biomass potential and the data on solar irradiance of the study area were utilized in the HOMER software to carry out the analysis. The HOMER analysis produced a solution that included total net present cost (NPC) and cost of electricity (COE), and these results were then further improved using sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity analysis employed sensitivity parameters like biomass potential, biomass pricing, solar irradiance, and variation in loads. Based on the NPC and COE, this analysis evaluates the system performance and demonstrates that it is techno-economically feasible.

Techno-Economic Assessment of a Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic – Diesel Genset for Rural Electrification, Case study of Namabasa Village – Uganda

In recent time, hybrid renewable energy systems are increasing being utilized to provide electricity in remote areas especially where the grid extension is considered very expensive. This study presents a techno –economic analysis of a Mini grid solar photovoltaic system for five (5) typical Zonal Communities in Namabasa ward Mbale District while promoting renewable energy system adaption and rural electrification. The assessment technique includes the establishment of the socio-economic state of the rural community through a field survey. The cost of system development ,electricity tariffs and sizing of energy production are realized via the Levelized Cost of Electricity ( LCOE) technique Sensitivity analysis was carried out to identity the parameters that affect the evolution of the (LCOE) during the life of the project, the results have shown that the annual energy production at a rate of 12,693.2 Mwh/year and capacity of 1449kW, while the lowest is predict at Namabasa Zone II at the rate of 2847MWh/year a capacity of 325KW where business consumers. The standard (LCOE) for system during the 15-year lifespan in the five (5) zones is estimated 350/= per KWh except at Doko II, this cost per Kilowatt Hour is more attractive and competitive compared with the current rate charged by the National electricity company.

Improving the gravity-vortex micro-hydroelectric power station efficiency by ensuring an acceptable value of the water inlet canal’s twist angle

Micro-water energy is a promising alternative energy source that produces electricity in remote areas, separated from the main electricity grid. In this research work, the method of increasing the efficiency of gravity-vortex micro-hydroelectric power station operating in low-pressure water flows through the twist angle of the inlet channel of the basin is presented. Gravity-vortex micro-hydroelectric power station is a new modern green technology as an alternative or renewable energy source. The advantage of this method of electricity production is that it is possible to produce electricity at a low pressure, i.e. starting from a pressure of 0.7 meters. In order to increase the initial speed of the water entering the cylindrical basin, the flow fields of the water flow inside the basin in the range of 0-90 degrees of the inlet channel twist angle were numerically simulated using the ANSYS Fluent software. As a result of the study, the parameters of the influence of the flow velocity vector on the flow field were studied.

Analisis Perancangan Panel Surya Portabel Dengan Autotracking

The world uses all resources to meet daily electrical energy needs so that shortly, we will run out of ore/mineral/petroleum, a source of electrical energy. As a result, renewable energy solutions have reached the current great demand to save natural resources and solve the energy crisis. Solar energy is rapidly gaining notoriety as an essential means of expanding renewable energy resources. Solar panels are devices that cleanly convert sunlight into electricity and offer a practical solution to the problem of generating electricity in remote areas. Therefore, it is significant for those of us in electrical engineering to understand the technology associated with this field. The solar panel system must be maximized to make solar energy more feasible and efficient than fossil energy. An automatic sun position tracking or solar tracker is a viable approach to optimizing the efficiency of a solar panel system. A solar tracker is a system that controls the movement of solar panels so that they are always aligned with the sun's position. The solar tracker uses a dual-axis system to align the solar panels with the sun's position. By using a solar tracker, it is expected that the solar panel system will produce maximum output power.