Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Wind
PV
Controller
power
electronics
Batteries
AC load
FIGURE 10.4 Diagram of hybrid wind/PV system with battery storage.
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Renewable energy source, single or hybrid, diesel/gas generator
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Renewable energy source, single or hybrid, diesel/gas generator with battery storage
The advantages of village power systems using renewable energy are:
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Provide AC or DC power for remote areas. For a system of any size, AC is the standard.
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Provide electricity for productive uses.
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Modular.
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No or small fuel costs.
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Lowest life cycle cost of electricity.
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May be owned and operated by local entities.
The disadvantages are:
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High initial capital cost compared to diesel generators
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More complex: sophisticated controllers, power conditioning, batteries
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High growth in demand—means there is not unlimited usage (load management, load
limitation)
Few suppliers, few systems installed, need high-volume production
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Infrastructure, who maintains (trained personnel), how much consumers pay for electricity
Institutional issues are more important than the technical issues, especially for demonstration
projects. Many demonstration projects can become very political, and the social issues dominate
over the technical issues. Institutional issues are:
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Planning, which includes locals before installation
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Cost, subsidies (who, how much), repairs paid when
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Ownership
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Operation and maintenance, training of operators
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Financing: world (multilaterals), other national aid agencies (lateral), and nongovernment
organizations; national, state, local, and private organizations
Tariff design, metering, ability and willingness to pay
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Load growth, education of users
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Quality of service
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Economic development versus social services (schools, clinics)
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Cultural response
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Institutional cooperation: local, state, national, electric utilities, inancing
 
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