Tilahun Nigussie (PhD)Hermela Estifanos2025-04-252025-04-252024-12https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/5357In many rural and remote regions of Ethiopia where healthcare facilities are situated far from the power grid, there is a pressing need for a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source to meet crucial electricity demands for lighting, communication, refrigeration, and essential medical equipment. Leveraging solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that harness abundant year-round sunlight as their sole input, offers a silent, safe, clean, and renewable energy solution. This thesis delves into a meticulous examination, design, and optimization of an independent photovoltaic system tailored to cater to the energy requirements of the Lemba Health Center on a daily basis. A comprehensive methodology is outlined, detailing the specification of each system component in alignment with the typical energy consumption patterns at the designated site. Utilizing sophisticated tools such as HOMER PRO and RETScreen Expert software, the study conducts a thorough performance and economic evaluation to determine the power output of the proposed solar photovoltaic system and assess the associated costs. The findings of the analysis underscore that the sizing of the standalone photovoltaic system hinges on factors such as load profile data, solar radiation levels, and the costs of system components. The HOMER analysis underscores the significant benefits and cost-effectiveness associated with deploying a photovoltaic system to power the health center, highlighting its superiority over traditional off-grid power systems and underscoring its positive impact on environmental conservation. Notably, the evaluation reveals that even during months with the lowest solar radiation, such as July, the system can meet the average energy demand, with a projected net present cost (NPC) of $68,155.56. Notably, this involves the installation of 15.3 kW peak power solar panels rated at 300W each.en-USStandalone solar photovoltaic (PV) systemhealth centerHOMER PRO softwareThesis