Off-grid community electrification projects based on wind and solar energies: A case study in Nicaragua
Despite various institutional efforts, about 22% of the total Nicaraguan population still do not have access to electricity. Due to the dispersed nature of many rural inhabitants, off-grid electrification systems that use renewable energy sources are a reliable and sustainable option to provide elec...
| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Data de publicação: | 2015 |
| País: | España |
| Recursos: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositório: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/82415 |
| Acesso em linha: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/82415 https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2015.05.005 |
| Access Level: | Acceso aberto |
| Palavra-chave: | Rural electrification - Nicaragua Wind power - Nicaragua Rural electrification with renewable energies Microgrids Resource assessment Case study Developing-countries Rural electrification Power-system Design Optimization Electrificació rural - Nicaragua Energia eòlica - Nicaragua Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia eòlica Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible::Desenvolupament humà Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Recursos energètics renovables Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia elèctrica::Electricitat |
| Resumo: | Despite various institutional efforts, about 22% of the total Nicaraguan population still do not have access to electricity. Due to the dispersed nature of many rural inhabitants, off-grid electrification systems that use renewable energy sources are a reliable and sustainable option to provide electricity to isolated communities. In this study, the design of an off-grid electrification project based on hybrid wind-photovoltaic systems in a rural community of Nicaragua is developed. Firstly the analysis of the location, energy and power demands of all users of the community is carried out. A detailed resource assessment is then developed by means of historical data, in-situ wind measurements and a specific micro-scale wind flow model. An optimization algorithm is utilized to support the design defining generation (number, type and location of generators, controllers, batteries and inverters) and distribution (electric networks) systems considering the detail of resource variations. The algorithm is modified in order to consider a long-term perspective and a sensitivity analysis is carried out considering different operation and maintenance costs' scenarios. The proposed design configuration combines solar home systems, solar based microgrids and wind based microgrids in order to connect concentrated groups of users taking advantage of best wind resource areas. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
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