Potential of meeting electricity needs of off-grid community with mini-grid solar systems
The abundance of renewable energy in Ghana can play an important role in the rural electrification program rolled out by the Government of Ghana to promote energy that everyone can assess for improved living standards. It has the potential to meet the objectives of the energy sector which include; 1...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific African |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227620304117 |
| _version_ | 1818613509516165120 |
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| author | Emmanuel Yeboah Asuamah Samuel Gyamfi Athanasios Dagoumas |
| author_facet | Emmanuel Yeboah Asuamah Samuel Gyamfi Athanasios Dagoumas |
| author_sort | Emmanuel Yeboah Asuamah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The abundance of renewable energy in Ghana can play an important role in the rural electrification program rolled out by the Government of Ghana to promote energy that everyone can assess for improved living standards. It has the potential to meet the objectives of the energy sector which include; 10% renewable energy in the total generation mix, minimize the adverse effects of energy production on the environment, reduce poverty, and improve the socio-economic development of the country, mainly, in rural communities, creating community-based employment, etc. In this study, Nkrankrom was selected as a case study to evaluate the possibility of meeting their energy needs with a solar mini-grid. To determine the energy demand of the community, a structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The HOMER software was used to perform the financial viability of utilizing the solar resource available. The result shows that it is possible to meet the energy demand of the community from the solar resource available. The proposed system configuration included PV/Battery/Converter with a Levelized Cost of Energy of $0.107/kWh compared to $0.124/kWh (using $1 = GH₵4.98 rate), if the area is to be connected to the national grid. The breakeven distance or Electric Distance Limit (EDL) between standalone mini-grid and grid extension in this analysis was found to be 1.11 km. The study also revealed that solar mini-grid could have an immense benefit to the community both economically and socially such as improve the standard of living as well as meeting the rural development objectives of Ghana. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:03:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5bd45d340e114341a38aa3980bd263f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2468-2276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T16:03:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific African |
| spelling | doaj.art-5bd45d340e114341a38aa3980bd263f42022-12-21T22:25:25ZengElsevierScientific African2468-22762021-03-0111e00675Potential of meeting electricity needs of off-grid community with mini-grid solar systemsEmmanuel Yeboah Asuamah0Samuel Gyamfi1Athanasios Dagoumas2Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, School of Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), P. O. Box 214 Sunyani, GhanaRegional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, School of Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), P. O. Box 214 Sunyani, Ghana; Corresponding author.Energy & Environmental Policy Laboratory, University of Piraeus, Greece Address: 126 Gr. Lambraki str., P.C. 18532 Piraeus, GreeceThe abundance of renewable energy in Ghana can play an important role in the rural electrification program rolled out by the Government of Ghana to promote energy that everyone can assess for improved living standards. It has the potential to meet the objectives of the energy sector which include; 10% renewable energy in the total generation mix, minimize the adverse effects of energy production on the environment, reduce poverty, and improve the socio-economic development of the country, mainly, in rural communities, creating community-based employment, etc. In this study, Nkrankrom was selected as a case study to evaluate the possibility of meeting their energy needs with a solar mini-grid. To determine the energy demand of the community, a structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The HOMER software was used to perform the financial viability of utilizing the solar resource available. The result shows that it is possible to meet the energy demand of the community from the solar resource available. The proposed system configuration included PV/Battery/Converter with a Levelized Cost of Energy of $0.107/kWh compared to $0.124/kWh (using $1 = GH₵4.98 rate), if the area is to be connected to the national grid. The breakeven distance or Electric Distance Limit (EDL) between standalone mini-grid and grid extension in this analysis was found to be 1.11 km. The study also revealed that solar mini-grid could have an immense benefit to the community both economically and socially such as improve the standard of living as well as meeting the rural development objectives of Ghana.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227620304117Mini-GridSolar PVRenewable EnergyHOMER SoftwareElectricityEnergy Demand |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuel Yeboah Asuamah Samuel Gyamfi Athanasios Dagoumas Potential of meeting electricity needs of off-grid community with mini-grid solar systems Scientific African Mini-Grid Solar PV Renewable Energy HOMER Software Electricity Energy Demand |
| title | Potential of meeting electricity needs of off-grid community with mini-grid solar systems |
| title_full | Potential of meeting electricity needs of off-grid community with mini-grid solar systems |
| title_fullStr | Potential of meeting electricity needs of off-grid community with mini-grid solar systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential of meeting electricity needs of off-grid community with mini-grid solar systems |
| title_short | Potential of meeting electricity needs of off-grid community with mini-grid solar systems |
| title_sort | potential of meeting electricity needs of off grid community with mini grid solar systems |
| topic | Mini-Grid Solar PV Renewable Energy HOMER Software Electricity Energy Demand |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227620304117 |
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