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| | = Overview = | | = Overview = |
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| − | == Providing Access to Clean, Reliable and Affordable Power to the Poor in Bihar (India) Through Solar Microgrid Networks ==
| + | = Providing Access to Clean, Reliable and Affordable Power to the Poor in Bihar (India) Through Solar Microgrid Networks = |
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| − | === Abstract ===
| + | == Abstract == |
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| | Bihar is 3<sup>rd</sup> largest state in terms of population of the 27 states in India, having 9% of population, and in terms of area it is the 12<sup>th</sup> largest and has less than 3% of the total national area. Per capita energy consumption is 95 units, which is 8 times less than the national average. The reasons for this are attributed to Insufficient supply and high transmission & distribution losses (51%). Bihar clearly is the state with the highest population density, wherein most of the other states have no access to electricity which causes a huge demand-supply gap. These factors among others have led to strong market opportunitys for off-grid energy solutions. The government in Bihar has made some changes in its laws which have led to the emergence of enterprises in various sectors as well as the improvement of infrastructure. | | Bihar is 3<sup>rd</sup> largest state in terms of population of the 27 states in India, having 9% of population, and in terms of area it is the 12<sup>th</sup> largest and has less than 3% of the total national area. Per capita energy consumption is 95 units, which is 8 times less than the national average. The reasons for this are attributed to Insufficient supply and high transmission & distribution losses (51%). Bihar clearly is the state with the highest population density, wherein most of the other states have no access to electricity which causes a huge demand-supply gap. These factors among others have led to strong market opportunitys for off-grid energy solutions. The government in Bihar has made some changes in its laws which have led to the emergence of enterprises in various sectors as well as the improvement of infrastructure. |
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| | <br/> | | <br/> |
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| − | === Objectives ===
| + | == Objectives == |
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| | To create a sustainable solar microgrid project in order to adress the electricity shortage problems that Bihar is facing. | | To create a sustainable solar microgrid project in order to adress the electricity shortage problems that Bihar is facing. |
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| | <br/> | | <br/> |
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| − | === Approach ===
| + | == Approach == |
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| | To begin the installation, a room is constructed where solar panels of 5.5kW are set up to generate power during the day and store it in the energy bank. At night this energy is converted from '''direct current (DC)''' to '''alternating current (AC) '''using a '''solar power conditioning unit (PCU)''' and is then transmitted to various clusters of 10 houses each. Each cluster has a distribution box which supplies power to 10 '''households (HHs) '''separately. In order to limit the supply, a load checker is kept for HHs to keep a cap on maximim alloted usage. Due to problems with theft of the components, the transimission system was subsequently built underground.<br/> | | To begin the installation, a room is constructed where solar panels of 5.5kW are set up to generate power during the day and store it in the energy bank. At night this energy is converted from '''direct current (DC)''' to '''alternating current (AC) '''using a '''solar power conditioning unit (PCU)''' and is then transmitted to various clusters of 10 houses each. Each cluster has a distribution box which supplies power to 10 '''households (HHs) '''separately. In order to limit the supply, a load checker is kept for HHs to keep a cap on maximim alloted usage. Due to problems with theft of the components, the transimission system was subsequently built underground.<br/> |
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| | <br/> | | <br/> |
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| − | === Lessons Learned ===
| + | == Lessons Learned == |
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| | <u>After careful obsevartion of the operations in the first plant, some issues identified and resolved were:</u><br/> | | <u>After careful obsevartion of the operations in the first plant, some issues identified and resolved were:</u><br/> |
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| | <br/> | | <br/> |
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| − | === <span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 23px;">Interconnected Mini-grids for Rural Energy Transition - A Case Study of Nepal</span> ===
| + | = <span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 23px;">Interconnected Mini-grids for Rural Energy Transition - A Case Study of Nepal</span> = |
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| − | === <span style="font-size: 17px;">Abstract</span> ===
| + | <br/> |
| | + | |
| | + | == <span style="font-size: 17px;">Abstract</span> == |
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| | More than 2 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, with 99 % of these people residing in developing countries. About 80% of them live in rural areas. In Nepal 56% of the population has access to electricity (49% in the rural areas), but with up to 16 hours of load-shedding in the national grid. This study has been done to show whether the use of individual renewable energy technologies have socio-economic benefits. | | More than 2 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, with 99 % of these people residing in developing countries. About 80% of them live in rural areas. In Nepal 56% of the population has access to electricity (49% in the rural areas), but with up to 16 hours of load-shedding in the national grid. This study has been done to show whether the use of individual renewable energy technologies have socio-economic benefits. |
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| | <br/> | | <br/> |
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| − | === Objectives ===
| + | == Objectives == |
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| | To show the socio-economic benefits that individual renewable energy technologies have in Nepal. | | To show the socio-economic benefits that individual renewable energy technologies have in Nepal. |
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| | <br/> | | <br/> |
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| − | === Approach ===
| + | == Approach == |
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| | The approach that has been considered is the Next Generation of Renewable Based Mini-Grids. This approach has many advantages inculding: | | The approach that has been considered is the Next Generation of Renewable Based Mini-Grids. This approach has many advantages inculding: |
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| | <br/> | | <br/> |
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| − | = Geographic Analysis of isolated diesel mini-grids for the implementation of renewable energies – A case study of Tanzania = | + | = Geographic Analysis of Isolated Diesel Mini-grids for the Implementation of Renewable Energies – A Case Study of Tanzania = |
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| − | === Abstract ===
| + | <br/> |
| | | | |
| − | Tanzania is an African country with around 47 million populations live in a country area of around 950,000 km<sup>2</sup>. The installed capacity of electricity power generation is more than 950MW, where 60.5% of it is renewable energies (mainly hydropower). There are many mini-grid diesel generator,, which have high power generation costs due to diesel fuel price, transport costs and low efficiency. At the same time, these generators cause CO<sub>2</sub>-emissions, air pollutants. So idea to upgrade of former diesel mini-grids with renewable energies has appeared.
| + | == Abstract == |
| | | | |
| − | === Objectives === | + | Tanzania has a population of around 47 million people who live in an area of approximately 950,000 km<sup>2</sup>. The installed capacity of electricity power generation is more than '''950 megawatts (MW)''', where 60.5% of it is renewable energies (mainly hydropower). Many mini-grid diesel generators are installed. These have high power generation costs due to the price of diesel, transport costs and low efficiency. At the same time, these generators are air pollutants causing '''carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub><span style="font-size: 0.85em;">)</span>'''<sub style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </sub><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.328125px;">e</span><span style="font-size: 0.85em; line-height: 1.5em;">missions. Therefore there is a need to upgrade these diesel mini-grids with renewable energies.</span> |
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| − | The main goal is to show the effects of using diesel mini-grids with renewable energies.
| + | <br/> |
| | | | |
| − | === Approach === | + | == Objectives == |
| | | | |
| − | The main idea was to upgrade of former diesel mini-grids with renewable energies, this upgrade has many advantages such as: | + | The main goal is to show the effects of using diesel mini-grids with renewable energies. |
| | | | |
| − | - <span dir="LTR"></span>lower power generation costs
| + | <br/> |
| | | | |
| − | - <span dir="LTR"></span>lower fuel dependency
| + | == Approach == |
| | | | |
| − | - <span dir="LTR"></span>fewer CO2-emissions, fewer detrimental environmental effects | + | The main idea was to upgrade diesel mini-grids with renewable energies. This upgrade has many advantages such as: |
| | + | *Lower power generation costs |
| | + | *Lower fuel dependency |
| | + | *Fewer CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and fewer detrimental environmental effects |
| | + | *Existing diesel generators serve as back-up power sources |
| | + | *Different methods are used in the localization of diesel main-grids and deciding whether the power plant operates off-grid or on-grid such as: |
| | + | **Using the global spatial information |
| | + | **Using the information on power plant inventory and locations from world power plant database. |
| | + | **Spatial extension of transmission grid |
| | + | **Extraction of 25 km buffer zone |
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| − | - <span dir="LTR"></span>existing diesel generators serve as back-up power sources
| + | <br/> |
| − | | + | |
| − | Different methods are used in the localization of diesel main-grids and deciding whether the power plant operates off-grid or on-grid such as:
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Use the global spatial information
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Use the information on power plant inventory and locations from world power plant database.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Spatial extension of transmission grid
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Extraction of 25 km buffer zone
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | === Results ===
| + | == Results == |
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| | - <span dir="LTR"></span>State-owned village mini-grids have to be targeted for a broader implementation of renewable energies in decentralized power generation | | - <span dir="LTR"></span>State-owned village mini-grids have to be targeted for a broader implementation of renewable energies in decentralized power generation |
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| | · <span dir="LTR"></span>Subsidies necessary for enabling electricity access, but investments in RE cannot be covered with low tariffs | | · <span dir="LTR"></span>Subsidies necessary for enabling electricity access, but investments in RE cannot be covered with low tariffs |
| | | | |
| − | === Recommendations ===
| + | <br/> |
| | + | |
| | + | == Recommendations == |
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| | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Necessary to break the negative feed-back-loop | | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Necessary to break the negative feed-back-loop |
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| | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Improved and more reliable power supply through hybrid mini-grids can increase electricity access (National target: 30 % of population in 2015) | | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Improved and more reliable power supply through hybrid mini-grids can increase electricity access (National target: 30 % of population in 2015) |
| | | | |
| − | === Further research ===
| + | <br/> |
| | + | |
| | + | == Further Research == |
| | | | |
| | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Community-operated diesel mini-grids, individually operated diesel generators | | - <span dir="LTR"></span>Community-operated diesel mini-grids, individually operated diesel generators |
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| | <br/> | | <br/> |
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| − | === <span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 23px;">Further Information</span> ===
| + | = <span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 23px;">Further Information</span> = |
| | + | |
| | + | <br/> |
| | | | |
| − | == References<br/> ==
| + | = References<br/> = |
| | | | |
| | <references /> | | <references /> |
To create a sustainable solar microgrid project in order to adress the electricity shortage problems that Bihar is facing.
To begin the installation, a room is constructed where solar panels of 5.5kW are set up to generate power during the day and store it in the energy bank. At night this energy is converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) using a solar power conditioning unit (PCU) and is then transmitted to various clusters of 10 houses each. Each cluster has a distribution box which supplies power to 10 households (HHs) separately. In order to limit the supply, a load checker is kept for HHs to keep a cap on maximim alloted usage. Due to problems with theft of the components, the transimission system was subsequently built underground.
More than 2 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, with 99 % of these people residing in developing countries. About 80% of them live in rural areas. In Nepal 56% of the population has access to electricity (49% in the rural areas), but with up to 16 hours of load-shedding in the national grid. This study has been done to show whether the use of individual renewable energy technologies have socio-economic benefits.
To show the socio-economic benefits that individual renewable energy technologies have in Nepal.
The approach that has been considered is the Next Generation of Renewable Based Mini-Grids. This approach has many advantages inculding:
Tanzania has a population of around 47 million people who live in an area of approximately 950,000 km2. The installed capacity of electricity power generation is more than 950 megawatts (MW), where 60.5% of it is renewable energies (mainly hydropower). Many mini-grid diesel generators are installed. These have high power generation costs due to the price of diesel, transport costs and low efficiency. At the same time, these generators are air pollutants causing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Therefore there is a need to upgrade these diesel mini-grids with renewable energies.
The main goal is to show the effects of using diesel mini-grids with renewable energies.
The main idea was to upgrade diesel mini-grids with renewable energies. This upgrade has many advantages such as:
