Power Reliability Improvement Through Distributed Generation Integrations (Case Study: Adama Industrial Park)
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Date
2025-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The traditional energy supply system includes the stages of generation, transmission, and distribution that are all directed towards the same goal of providing reliable, affordable energy to the end-users, thus minimizing the occurrence of power outages and damage to devices. Ethiopia is implementing industrial parks to boost its economy, despite facing challenges such as demand increment, system overload faults, and interruptions due to inadequate nationwide electricity access. This thesis is a case study on the design and techno-economic opportunities of solar and wind energy (DG) to enhance power reliability to AIP as a grid-connected system. The analysis involved various methods, including site visits, interviews, questionnaires, and data from various offices. Solar and wind energy systems were identified, simulated, and optimized using PVsyst and HOMER Pro using the information provided by the National Metrology Agency. The study also evaluated the reliability of the existing system by using customer-side indices (SAIDI, SAIFI, CAIDI, and EENS) over three years. The overall base case AIP feeder SAIFI =178 interruptions/customer/year, SAIDI =319 hours/customer/year, CAIDI = 1.8Hrs./customer interruption, ASAI =96.34%, and ASUI =3.66% which was greater than the standard of Ethiopian Electric Agency (EEAs) per SAIFI =20 and SAIDI 25. Therefore, the reliability of this base case needs to be further improved. At the time of the establishment of AIP, the company requested a total of 48.63 MW from Ethiopian power, but only one feeder was allocated for 9 MW. After one year, another 9 MW feeder was added to the previous one, and Sunshine Wool Textile PLC and Kingdom Ethiopia Linen PLC were allowed to operate separately through this feeder. In addition to the feeder, however, a power interruption has taken place. Conversely, if we produce at capacity, then the techno-economics of this generation will be approximately the same as if we were only to produce 100% of 48.63 MW with no place for solar or wind energy being able to provide 48.63 MW. The PVsyst simulation indicates that for a grid-connected 10 MW polycrystalline solar power plant, 1634 strings of 18 modules each in series will be required to achieve a total area of 57,070 m² (29,412 modules total). As for a wind farm, a 15 MW wind farm is designed as ten separate 1.5 MW units. The preferred hub height of approximately 70 meters gives an acceptable balance between the energy production and the costs of the tower and foundation. The wind speed at this height is about 7.08 m/s. The techno-economic analysis applied at 100% full capacity of 48.63 MW would imply that there would be no place where solar/wind could produce that 48.63 MW. The PVsyst simulation predicted that a 10 MW polycrystalline grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) plant would be made up of 1,634 strings with 18 origin units in series. The 10 MW photovoltaic system will consist of 29,412 solar panels and will cover approximately 57,070 square meters for the installation of the panels. The layout of the 15 MW wind park comprises 10 turbines of 1.5 MW each. A height of 70 meters is suggested as a compromise between power generation and the costs of the foundation and tower construction. A height of 70 meters is proposed as a middle ground between power production and the expenses of the supporting structure and tower construction. Wind speed at 70 meters is estimated to be approximately 7.08 m/s. A particular solar PV was selected using HOMER, based on the local solar radiation to create a workable result. A favorable assessment of the wind energy potential was also made. HOMER has determined the optimal system to comprise a new photovoltaic array of 10000 kW and 10 wind turbines of 1500 kW each. The optimization results for the hybrid power model with a grid-connected. For this grid-connected system, the cost of energy (COE) obtained the result of $0.0379, and the percentage of renewable energy contribution is 96.2%. The net present cost (NPC) is $64.6M. The summary of the Economic analysis indicates that the Internal rate of return of the project stands at 8.7, and the Internal Return on the investment is 5.9. The simple payback period consists of 10 years, and the discounted payback period consists of 9 years. DG integrates into the AIP feeder, resulting in simulation values of the reliability indices SAIFI, SAIDI, and ENS, which are 5.22 interruptions per customer per year, 8.55 hours per customer per year, and 155.9 MWh/year, respectively. As a result of the presence of DG, the reliability indices SAIFI, SAIDI, and ENS are reduced by 97.11%, 97.33%, and 97.33%, respectively. Based on the results of the study, DG integration effectively improves the reliability of the AIP feeders.
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Keywords
Wind energy, Ethiopia, AIP, HOMER Pro, PVsyst, Solar