Sustainability and Optimal Design of Small-scale Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Applications in Ethiopia
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Date
2017-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The government of Ethiopia placed a high priority on providing access to energy for remote
locations. Despite this policy and the expenditure of millions of birr, the majority of the
population still remains without access to electricity services today. To meet the lighting and
other basic energy needs, many households continue to depend on polluting and non-efficient
energy means such as kerosene and dry cell batteries. Electrification through grid extension
was the only electrification options available to the rural population in this country. More
recently, there is a dramatic increase in the use of renewable energy solutions, mostly off-grid
solar PV systems by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Off-grid solar
photovoltaic (PV) system is an obvious choice for bringing modern energy supply to the remote
Ethiopian communities. In the past ten years, different governmental as well as nongovernmental
organizations in Ethiopia have implemented thousands of solar photovoltaic
systems for homes and institutions across the four regions in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray
regions of Ethiopia. However, to date there has not been a major study conducted in regards to
the sustainability and PV systems design considerations. Accordingly, this study assessed the
different systems implemented in the four regions (Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray regions)
with the main objective to identify factors affecting the sustainability of solar PV system
dissemination thereby suggesting best ways for designing stand-alone solar PV systems for rural
applications. In order to meet these objectives, scientific methodologies were followed which
include literature review, site visit, data collection and analysis.
All the necessary data were collected by conducting surveys of solar PV systems installed in the
selected sample Woredas of the four regions, and also by conducting interviews of PV system
users and energy experts working in the respective Woredas, Zones and Regions. The thesis
presents the major findings from the result of the data analysis which is evaluated in order to
summarize the sustainability aspects of solar PV systems dissemination and to propose the
most feasible solutions for the problems raised by the study. Based on the survey data analysis
result, load estimations were done for homes and institutions found in off-grid areas. The solar
radiation data of the regional capitals were retrieved from NASA which has been taken as an
input for an optimized PV module and battery design that is simulated using PVSyst.
This thesis also examines issues of optimal designing and as such provides optimum sizes of
photovoltaic panels and batteries for two types of homes with different load considerations,
and for institutions such as schools and health facilities. The findings show that there are
different system sizes that exist for the same kinds of institutions. In addition, similar sized
systems were supplied and installed for all regions. The simulated system using PVSyst shows,
for Adama (Oromia region) and Mekele (Tigray region), smaller PV size is needed as compared
to Bahir dar (Amhara region) and Hawassa (SNNPR).
Description
Keywords
Photovoltaic Systems, Optimal Design, Small-scale, Rural Applications, Sustainability