Optimum design and analysis of solar pv/diesel hybrid power generation system for cheri alga irrigation site and electrification of the nearby community at kosha kebele

Abstract

It is highly costly and not feasible to supply power for rural areas which are far from grid and have low population density where their electric consumption is very low. Since currently PV prices are decreasing, it is a better alternative to use solar PV/diesel hybrid systems in order to decrease fuel consumption, operation and maintenance cost and deliver higher quality service than a single diesel generator electric power source. By this thesis work, optimum design and sensitivity analysis of solar PV/diesel hybrid power supply system with battery bank and converter was done using HOMER for Cheri Alga irrigation site and electrification of nearby rural community in Kosha Kebele. The services include lighting, school, health center, tea shops, flour mill, radio and television services and water pumping where a diesel generator power supply system is installed only for irrigation water pumping of 70HP. By designing this hybrid system, additional services/loads of the nearby rural community can be supplied by electric power. The operational concept of the hybrid system is that solar will be the first choice of supplying load and excess energy produced will be stored in battery. Diesel generator set will be a secondary source of energy. Electrical load estimation of the area was done by interview, gathering appropriate data from the government administration offices and referring related literatures. Solar sun shine hour, minimum and maximum temperature of the site was taken from NMSA Jimma Branch and average solar irradiation potential of the site is 5.8kwh/m2/day. Size, quantity and cost of components was fed to HOMER and the optimum hybrid system is obtained. Sensitivity analysis also done by considering variation in diesel fuel price, solar radiation and primary load. In addition, cost and environmental impact comparison was done between diesel generator only and solar PV/diesel hybrid power supply system and cost of the hybrid system was compared with g