Off-grid PV System Research Articles

Decision-making frameworks for assessment of small-scale off-grid photovoltaic home system-based design concepts in rural context of north-east India

Energy security plays an influential role in developing sustainable cities and promoting a better quality of life for the population. The United Nations' sustainable development goal focuses on energy security. Against the backdrop of India's energy concerns in the northeastern region, the study investigates the user-centric challenges related to the designs of solar photovoltaic home system concepts to facilitate access to energy. This is followed by the proposal of design concepts for solar photovoltaic home systems that take due cognizance of the identified challenges. To facilitate determining the optimal design concept in the context of small-scale off-grid photovoltaic home systems the paper proposes and applies an extended TOmada de Decisao Interativa Multicriteria (TODIM) methodology wherein the linguistic evaluations have been modelled using T-Spherical fuzzy sets. The information was aggregated using T-Spherical Fuzzy Aczel-Alsina Hammy Mean and T-Spherical Fuzzy Aczel-Alsina Weighted Hammy Mean operators. Ten design concepts were developed and evaluated through the proposed decision-making frameworks. Five performance metrics arising out of the field study: Functionality, Reliability, Affordability, Novelty and Usability have been chosen to appraise the conceptualized design concepts. Design concept 3 has been revealed to be the optimal design concept for the application of the proposed approach. Sensitivity analysis of the ranking results revealed that although both the proposed methodologies are robust, the methodology based on T-Spherical fuzzy Aczel-Alsina Weighted Hammy Mean operator was revealed to be the superior of the two. By presenting an effective method to address the complexities in design assessment for off-grid PV systems, this research offers practical insights to guide context-specific design in the region.

Uninterrupted Electricity Supply using Off-Grid Solar PV Systems for Remote Areas

Uninterrupted Electricity Supply using Off-Grid Solar PV Systems for Remote Areas

Finite automated system to design a high efficiency LLC resonant converter system for 3 kW. PV solar array

A combination of electrical circuit design and the Finite Automation model leads to improved efficiency in terms of memory usage, computation time, and overall performance. LLC resonant converters are known for their high efficiency and ability to convert DC voltage from solar panels into the desired AC voltage for grid-tied or off-grid PV systems. However, designing, testing, and implementing LLC in a PV system requires careful consideration of various factors, including voltage and current requirements, resonant frequency, and compliance with standards and regulations. Eight cases are taken for this purpose with a special case of a 3kW-PV module. The major parameters for the LLC resonant Converter were 480-500V. as output voltage for 36-40V. input voltage range with a 39V. nominal voltage. The calculated coefficients for these values were as follows: A = C = 7.29, B = -50.58, D = -0.25, and E = -11. Combining LLC circuit design with FA, it is providing 94.5 % efficiency through selecting precise parameters that minimized overall calculated losses such as conductive and switching types. The right path and accepted words for different cases are given to provide several solutions with the correct path of design. ZVS and ZCS have been obtained through precise selection process of phase shift between Half Bridge of LLC circuit achieved by this design.

Reducing CO2 Emissions by Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems: A Case Study in the Departamento del Magdalena - Colombia

This paper presents projections on the reduction of CO2 emissions through the implementation of off-grid PV systems on 33 farms located in rural areas of the Departamento del Magdalena, where horticultural activities are performed by small local producers. To achieve this, the emission reduction was estimated for a period of 25 years using the installed PV peak power on each farm, data from the Global Solar Atlas, the emission factor in Colombia for electricity generation and information established in the harmonization project of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In order to compare the estimations, temperature and solar irradiance data were obtained from 10 farms near the installations, located in 8 municipalities within the department. With these data and through mathematical modeling, the energy generated by each PV system and the projection of non-emitted CO2 emissions were calculated. The results obtained demonstrated that, in both cases, the projections for emission reduction are similar, highlighting that the municipalities of Ciénaga and Sitio Nuevo contribute the highest amount of saved CO2 due to the projections of higher energy production in these locations.

AI-enabled sports-system peer-to-peer energy exchange network for remote areas in the digital economy

In remote areas, particularly in developing countries, there is a growing interest in off-grid solar PV systems for their ability to provide clean and affordable electricity. However, these systems often face limitations in powering essential amenities, including sports facilities, due to restricted capabilities and inadequate battery storage. To address these challenges and promote energy independence, this paper proposes an AI-enabled sports-system peer-to-peer (P2P) energy exchange network within the digital economy. This innovative system leverages AI to optimize energy distribution specifically for sports-related infrastructures, ensuring efficient use of solar power and improved energy availability for both recreational and community needs. The proposed P2P network operates on a three-part Internet of Things (IoT) framework, facilitating automatic energy sharing among interconnected systems. This approach not only enhances the performance of existing solar power setups but also ensures that energy demands for sports facilities are met effectively. Feasibility studies of this system reveal promising outcomes, including a 13.67% increase in community energy independence and a 12.20% reduction in overall energy consumption. The AI-powered sports-system network demonstrates its potential to support sustainable development and improve the quality of life in remote areas by integrating sports and energy needs within the digital economy context.

Design and optimization of off-grid solar PV and biomass-based hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) for electrification of a rural community in Tharparkar, Pakistan

Design and optimization of off-grid solar PV and biomass-based hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) for electrification of a rural community in Tharparkar, Pakistan

Design and Feasibility Study of A Stand-Alone Home Pv Solar System in Baghdad Climate

The question asked by all researchers is when solar panels will replace the national grid, especially in the domestic sector. In this study, a rooftop stand-alone solar electric system is designed to provide all the electrical power to a house in Baghdad-Iraq, using a (How to design PV system) simulation program. The feasibility of this system compared to the performance of the national electric grid and the system of private diesel generators is determined. The proposed solar system capacity is (25 kW), and the space required and the energy payback time are (360 m2 and 7.82 years), respectively. By using the current system, the net CO2 mitigation amount is 499,518.2 tons for 30-year. The kilowatt-hour costs for the subsidized national grid, private diesel generators, and the present solar system is 0.01865$, 0.1509$, and $0.108, respectively. The kilowatt cost can reach 0.25kWh if the battery replacement cost is estimated; so photovoltaic systems are still a good choice to generate electricity instead of using the national grid. If solar PV systems to generate electricity are used instead of the national grid, the financial and environmental profits will be good enough. The reason for the study is because the costs of off-grid solar PV systems are high, no specific studies have emerged on such vital topics. Currently, loans from government banks have reduced the impact of this negative factor

Peer to peer solar energy sharing system for rural communities

Off-grid stand-alone solar PV systems have been given much attention for many years as they can provide clean and cheap electrical energy to communities in rural areas, particularly developing countries. However, due to their limited capacities, such PV systems are mainly used for primary and essential loads such as fans, lighting, cell phone charging, etc. In contrast, a considerable amount of excess energy is wasted every day due to insufficient battery storage. Therefore, peer-to-peer (P2P) interconnection between existing solar PV systems brings the opportunity to supply additional loads and make rural communities self-sufficient. Moreover, this innovative approach overcomes some obstacles that current mini/microgrids exhibit and plays a vital role in providing a reliable energy supply in rural areas. This paper investigates the feasibility of P2P solar energy sharing for such systems. In this regard, an IoT-enabled, cost-effective automated solar energy sharing system comprising three functional blocks has been proposed. The feasibility analysis in this paper indicates that the P2P application has increased the self-sufficiency and self-consumption of the community by 13.66% and 11.16%, respectively. As a result, a significant life cycle improvement enables the community by utilizing the proposed energy-sharing system benefits.

DESAIN PLTS OFF-GRID BERDASARKAN ANALISIS OTONOMI BATERAI LEAD ACID OPZV DI ADIDAYA WORKSHOP, JAKARTA BARAT

The design of Off-Grid PV at Adidaya Workshop as an additional electrical energy supplier is based on the load requirements used for equipment and operations at the workshop. In addition to requests from the company itself, the design of Off-Grid PV is carried out to supply electrical energy to essential loads and other educational purposes. The Off-Grid PV design was carried out with the first step of field observations at Adidaya Workshop, measuring the roof area, daily electricity load profile with a Power Quality Analyzer measuring instrument, and calculating the capacity requirements of the Off-Grid PV system according to the Adidaya Workshop load. The Off-Grid PV design was carried out with 4 scenarios based on variations in solar panels and batteries. Researchers calculated the capacity of the PV system and used PVSyst software as a design simulation so that a report was obtained based on field data. In the simulation results with PVSyst, the best performance ratio is obtained which is worth 68.3% obtained from scenario 3 with a variation of 600 Wp solar panels and 540 Ah batteries and the largest yield energy output is obtained from scenario 4.

Exploring Optimal Charging Strategies for Off-Grid Solar Photovoltaic Systems: A Comparative Study on Battery Storage Techniques

This paper presents a comparative analysis of different battery charging strategies for off-grid solar PV systems. The strategies evaluated include constant voltage charging, constant current charging, PWM charging, and hybrid charging. The performance of each strategy is evaluated based on factors such as battery capacity, cycle life, DOD, and charging efficiency, as well as the impact of environmental conditions such as temperature and sunlight. The results show that each charging strategy has its advantages and limitations, and the optimal approach will depend on the specific requirements and limitations of the off-grid solar PV system. This study provides valuable insights into the performance and effectiveness of different battery charging strategies, which can be used to inform the design and operation of off-grid solar PV systems. This paper concludes that the choice of charging strategy depends on the specific requirements and limitations of the off-grid solar PV system and that a careful analysis of the factors that affect performance is necessary to identify the most appropriate approach. The main needs for off-grid solar photovoltaic systems include efficient energy storage, reliable battery charging strategies, environmental adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendly operation, while the primary limitations affecting these systems encompass intermittent energy supply, battery degradation, environmental variability, initial investment costs, fluctuations in energy demand, and maintenance challenges, emphasizing the importance of careful strategy selection and system design to address these factors. It also provides valuable insights for designing and optimizing off-grid solar PV systems, which can help to improve the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of these systems.

A stacked ensemble forecast for photovoltaic power plants combining deterministic and stochastic methods

Feature engineering (or creation of new features) that strengthens the importance of fundamental variables (e.g., cloud cover, partial shading, solar irradiance) is essential in gaining an accurate PV forecast for different use cases. On-grid and off-grid PV systems for residential prosumers, and larger scale PV systems are investigated from the PV forecast point of view. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a robust and scalable method designed for PV systems with various sizes and connectivity that provides accurate predictions. The originality of our research consists in feature engineering and combining the deterministic and stochastic models into a meta-learning Stacked Ensemble Forecast (SEF) method that is properly adjusted considering the connectivity of the PV system. The predictions of several standout Machine Learning (ML) algorithms are stacked and scaled to create an accurate forecast model. The proposed methodology is tested on three case studies that cover different types of PV systems: small (residential) on-grid, off-grid, and industrial PV power plants. In all cases, the SEF model provides accurate predictions with an R2 between 0.91 and 0.99 and MAPE between 0.1 and 0.29, followed closely by the stochastic models that have an average R2 of 0.85 and MAPE of 0.3. The deterministic model provides less accurate predictions with an average R2 of 0.8 and MAPE of 0.37. Furthermore, RMSE and MAE improved with more than 16% using the SEF model compared to the stochastic models and with more than 45% compared to the deterministic model.

Design Methodology of Off-Grid PV System

This paper develops a novel design methodology for the off-grid PV system by applying the demand- side management (DSM) approach. DSM strategy is used for the optimal distribution of electrical energy among the load. Various types of load are being categorized based on priority. In the case of a power shortage, the top-priority load will get a more reliable power supply. Moreover, energy shortage will get distributed among the loads. A programming model has been designed for a DSM-based off-grid PV system. Two cases have been considered. In the first case, the program is allowed to run under poor solar insolation conditions with DSM and in the second case, the off-grid system has been analyzed without DSM under poor insolation conditions. It is found that DSM based off-grid PV system is a better option as it supplies more reliable power as well as provides maximum customer comfort as compared to without a DSM-based off-grid PV system.

SIZING PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM IN DUHOK PROVINCE, KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ

Using clean energy sources instead of traditional methods of energy production is important to tackle global warming and climate change. As in the rest cities of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, the national electricity outage crisis continues in Duhok Governorate and the production of energy via different sources is still needed. This paper studies the simulation of two different types of solar energy systems on school roofs using the Homer Pro software. The first is a grid-connected system and the second, is an off-grid system for six different regions of Duhok Governorate, using the solar radiation data for each site. Our findings confirm the preference for on-grid PV over an off-grid PV system at all sites. As the cost of energy in USD per kWh in both grid-tied and stand-alone models varies from one region to another, which is as follows: Amedi (0.089, 0.339), Kani Masi (0.091, 0.0338), Bamarni (0.093, 0.338), Mangesh (0.095, 0.349), Semel (0.107, 0.341), and Akre (0.127, 0.347). The net present cost NPC in both grid-connected and grid-independent for 160 kW PV systems is as follows: Kani Masi ($217303, $260504), Amedi ($217621, $260710), Bamarni ($219007, $260587), Mangesh ($220167, $261239), Semel ($227566, $261222), and finally Akre ($238671, $262203).

DESIGNING TECHNO-ECONOMIC OFF-GRID PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM USING AN IMPROVED DIFFERENTIAL EVOLUTION ALGORITHM

Conventional power generation is one of the main contributors to the phenomenon of the greenhouse effect. This has led to a diversification of electricity sources including environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar energy. Off-grid PV systems have gained some traction due to their cost-effectiveness for rural communities. However, the intermittent nature of solar is the main challenge to developing the off-grid PV system. Moreover, the high capital cost of PV systems as well as the storage batteries becomes the main concern for all PV users. Thus, this study aims to optimize the size of the PV system and battery simultaneously and design a cost-effective off-grid photovoltaic system considering various aspects such as battery power, solar irradiance, and PV panel selection while ensuring system reliability. The proposed system was optimized using improved Differential Evolution (DE) and its effectiveness was tested by comparing the results with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). The Improved DE algorithm provides the highest average cost savings compared to other algorithms, which is $500 per year. It is recommended that this method is very useful in the optimization of off-grid PV systems, considering other uncertainties that affect PV system performance.

The influence of current in off-grid PV systems on lead–acid battery lifetime and hybridization with LFP battery as solution

This paper describes test results of two sets of VRLA GEL batteries that included various phenomena which might accelerate their degradation process in off-grid PV systems like: incomplete charges (bad recharges), low start current and remaining in partially discharge state. The test shown in the paper included two cycling experiments lasting 45 days and 98 days during which the batteries where constantly charged and discharged in different cycles. The results show strong acceleration of degradation process for incomplete charges (bad recharges) which are specifically difficult to avoid in off-grid systems. In order to avoid the premature destruction of lead–acid battery in off-grid PV systems the hybrid battery system consisting of lithium-iron-phosphate and lead–acid batteries connected with DC/DC converter is proposed.

Economic Viability of a 6.5kW Off-grid Solar PV with Various Sun-Tracking Systems in Northern Cyprus: A Case Study

In this paper, an in-depth analysis of small-scale PV in Northern Cyprus is conducted for the first time at 37 locations in Northern Cyprus. No previous study has investigated the viability of off-grid PV systems with various sun-tracking systems in Northern Cyprus. In order to achieve this, NASA POWER data were used for the evaluation of the solar resource in the selected locations. The results showed that the selected locations are suitable for the installation of various scales of PV systems due to the high global horizontal solar radiation. The mathematical modeling method was utilized for the design and analysis of PV systems with various sun-tracking systems and for the assessment of their economic viability and feasibility. Energy production, capacity factor, payback period, and cost of energy production were calculated. The results indicate that the proposed systems are very promising for all the selected locations. The PV projects with a 2-axis sun-tracking system produce a large amount of energy and have a low electricity cost. It was found that the electrical energy cost of the developed systems was within the range of 0.4851-0.6641TL/kWh. The payback periods varied from 4.57 years to 8.49 years, depending on the type of solar PV panel and sun-tracking system. This study provides some useful recommendations for decision-makers regarding the development and deployment of PV energy technology in the country in order to achieve sustainable development goals.

Energy And Economic Analysis of Solar PV System for Making Heritage Building Self-Sustainable

Abstract: To determine if Madhav Institute of Technology and science, Gwalior has a viable option for implementation of a 1kW Solar PV Project on a standalone mode in terms of technical feasibility and cost effectiveness and its implementation to meet the electricity demand. The performance of off-grid solar PV system is evaluated in six rooms as self-sustainable. After thorough study of the past work it is felt that further research can be extended in the area by taking different items of local importance. It is further decided to check the performance of off-grid solar PV system and make the six faculty’s room selfsustainable and net Zero. The purpose of this work is to create and analyze an experiment of an estimate power for enhancing system performance and to assist in integrating into the faculty building's power grid system. The results findings might be used as a reference for comparable applications and as a tool for academics and engineers to assess the setup, behavior, and operation of a rooftop PV conversion system. The results of this experiment are a reference study for mechanical wing of college campuses and towns on migrating to a smart, green, and clean energy building idea. "Smart Grid" is the term used here.

A novel domino-like snow removal system for roof PV arrays: Feasibility, performance, and economic benefits

Snow accumulation on PV modules hinders normal power generation which is a challenge for the wide-scope application of photovoltaics in snowy regions. In this paper, a domino-like snow removal system (DSRS) based on photovoltaics self-heating (PVSH) was designed and investigated to overcome this application challenge. The domino-like snow removal strategy is first proposed, whose core idea is to use the energy from uncovered PV modules to accomplish snow removal in PV systems string by string. The process is almost free of utility power consumption and is suitable for both off-grid and grid-connected PV systems. The principle of PVSH is explained and its long-term effect on PV modules was first verified by comprehensive experiments. The entire process of snow removal is physically modeled. A novel circuit topology and control flow were designed to implement the domino-like snow removal strategy. The 1st generation prototype of the DSRS was manufactured and two-year outdoor experiments were conducted to validate the snow removal performance. Furthermore, the economic benefits of DSRS were analyzed through detailed installation cost calculations and conservative snow effect projections. The experimental results demonstrate that long-term PVSH does not contribute to the performance degradation of PV cells. The DSRS shows high snow removal efficiency with extremely low power consumption compared to similar methods, which has been tested to have outstanding adaptability in handling different types of snow under complex climatic conditions. In addition to a convenient and low-cost installation, the payback period of the DSRS varies between 2.99 and 4.3 years according to the scale of PV systems. So the 25-year return on investment (ROI) of DSRS can reach up to 857.2 %. This paper presents a systematic work around the feasibility, performance, and economic benefits of the domino-like snow removal system and confirms it is an excellent solution to removing snow on PV modules and has great potential to promote PV deployment where the snow covers for a few months in winter.

Temporal Resolution of Input Weather Data Strongly Affects an Off-Grid PV System Layout and Reliability

Renewable energy systems design using average year weather data is a standard approach that works well for grid-tied systems, but for stand-alone ones, it leads to dramatic mistakes. We considered the effect of meteorological data temporal resolution (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 min; 1, 2, 3, 4 h) on a stand-alone hybrid system’s layout in terms of equipment cost, power supply reliability and maximum duration of interruption for monitoring equipment in the Alps. We have shown that lifecycle costs could be strongly (order of magnitude) underestimated for off-grid systems, as well as their reliability overestimated. Lower temporal resolution data lead to the underestimation of energy storage charge–discharge cycles (considering depth of discharge too)—real batteries are to be replaced more often, which matches our practical experience as well. Even a 5 to 10 min decrease in weather data temporal resolution leads to the estimated annual expenses being halved. In general, we recommend using 30 min. resolution.

Management of Electric Energy in Stand-alone Off-grid Solar PV System

The stand-alone solar photovoltaic system has different kinds like on-grid and off-grid. This paper deals with the analysis, design and control of electric energy with different load profiles in off-grid stand-alone solar photovoltaic systems. The management of electric energy varies according to various load profiles. In here, the loads are considered as only DC loads. This paper shows three different dc load profiles. The goal of the management is to show and control the loads according to the load profiles and observe the outputs in MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation of the system has been developed in MATLAB/Simulink. Here, a simple stand-alone solar photovoltaic model has been used which carries PV module, charge controller, management strategy, battery, loads and a monitoring box to monitor the load profiles. This work introduces the procedure of how to control with different load profiles and what are the outputs. Finally, experimental results and related figures are shown to verify the effectiveness of the proposed energy management strategy.