Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Ömer Kaan Merev

doi:10.5152/tepes.2021.21020

Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) suffer from the lack of access to electricity due to poverty and a dispersed population. Due to the solar power potential in this region, solar-powered microgrids were examined in this study as a way to supply affordable electricity to the rural population in SSA. Using HOMER Pro as the microgrid optimization tool, a microgrid designed to supply electricity in Burkina Faso was simulated. With one of the cheapest electricity tariffs in SSA ($0.240/kWh), Burkina Faso was selected to ensure that the simulation results can serve as a proof-of-concept for all of the Sub-Saharan countries. Factors like solar panel output degradation and dusting, unexpected component failure, and linearity of the load profile were assessed to determine the lowest- cost and highest-cost results for the simulated microgrid. The performed simulations showed that even without a connection to the main grid, a solar-powered microgrid can be easily profitable while supplying electricity at below the average national tariff, with almost no expected power outages. This paper proves that microgrids with only solar panels as a power source remain a viable option to provide cheap electricity to the impoverished rural regions in SSA, even with almost no component maintenance.

Keywords

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Photovoltaic Power Systems

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ömer Kaan Merev ^* This is me
0000-0002-2338-5981
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 31, 2021

Submission Date

April 2, 2021

Acceptance Date

April 23, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 1 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5152/tepes.2021.21020

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA62SZ57FH

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Merev, Ö. K. (2021). Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Turkish Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 1(2), 60-68. https://doi.org/10.5152/tepes.2021.21020

AMA

1.Merev ÖK. Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. TEPES. 2021;1(2):60-68. doi:10.5152/tepes.2021.21020

Chicago

Merev, Ömer Kaan. 2021. “Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa”. Turkish Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems 1 (2): 60-68. https://doi.org/10.5152/tepes.2021.21020.

EndNote

Merev ÖK (October 1, 2021) Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Turkish Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems 1 2 60–68.

IEEE

[1]Ö. K. Merev, “Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa”, TEPES, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 60–68, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.5152/tepes.2021.21020.

ISNAD

Merev, Ömer Kaan. “Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa”. Turkish Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems 1/2 (October 1, 2021): 60-68. https://doi.org/10.5152/tepes.2021.21020.

JAMA

1.Merev ÖK. Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. TEPES. 2021;1:60–68.

MLA

Merev, Ömer Kaan. “Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa”. Turkish Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, vol. 1, no. 2, Oct. 2021, pp. 60-68, doi:10.5152/tepes.2021.21020.

Vancouver

1.Ömer Kaan Merev. Feasibility of PV-Based Islanded Microgrids for Affordable Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. TEPES. 2021 Oct. 1;1(2):60-8. doi:10.5152/tepes.2021.21020