Environmental Hotspot Assessment for a PV Mini-Grid Design: A Case Study for Malawi
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Contribution Analysis
3.1.1. Mini-Grid Sized for Lighting, Phone Charging, and Refrigeration
- Poles and stays
- Cabling components
- PV panels
3.1.2. Mini-Grid Sized for e-Cooking
3.2. Scenario Analysis
3.2.1. Poles and Stays
3.2.2. Cable Options
3.2.3. PV Efficiency
4. Discussion
Supplementary Materials
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
Malawi Mini-Grid BOM | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Section | Description | Unit | Qty | Comments |
Power Components | ||||
PV panels | m2 | 76.6 | 14.1 kWp at 16% efficiency. Modified from ecoinvent as a single crystal PV panel (GLO), market, Cut off U | |
Battery | kWh | 41.1 | Lithium Iron Phosphate (LIB) | |
Inverter | kW | 5 | Taken as multiples of the 2.5 kW inverter from ecoinvent, (GLO) Cut off U | |
Converter | kW | 11.6 | Taken as multiples of 2.5 kW inverter from ecoinvent, (GLO) Cut off U | |
Shipping container | m | 1 | Standard 20 ft container, Dimensions 5.89 × 2.35 × 2.36 | |
Poles | ||||
9 m poles 140–160 mm | ea | 75 | Buried 1.5 m deep, no concrete | |
Stay blocks | ea | 50 | Standard wooden block with hook, 1 m deep | |
Cables/Conductors | ||||
50 mm AAC conductor | m | 6000 | Aluminium core | |
16 mm twin figure 8 | m | 1000 | Copper core | |
2 × 16 mm armored cable | m | 80 | From generation to first poles, 2 runs | |
Stay wire 7/12 | m | 500 | Steel | |
4 mm2 single core cable red 100 m | ea | 2 | Assume a copper core | |
4 mm2 single core cable black 100 m | ea | 2 | Assume a copper core | |
2.5 mm2 single core cable red 100 m | ea | 8 | Assume a copper core | |
2.5 mm2 single core cable black 100 m | ea | 8 | Assume a copper core | |
2.5 mm2 single core cable green 100 m | ea | 10 | Used for earthing | |
1.5 mm2 single core cable red 100 m | ea | 30 | Assume a copper core | |
1.5 mm2 single core cable black 100 m | ea | 15 | Assume a copper core | |
1.5 mm2 single core cable green 100 m | ea | 15 | Assume a copper core | |
Bare copper cable | ea | |||
Overhead Materials | ||||
Bobbin insulator | ea | 100 | Ceramic | |
D-Iron, 2 bolts, 2 nuts, 2 washers, complete with bobbin | ea | 110 | 60 for hoses, 50 for use with poles with angles or junctions | |
M16 × 200 GI bolt, nut, washer | ea | 48 | For the D-iron through pole | |
M16 × 260 GI bolt, nut & washer | ea | 100 | For the bobbin through the pole | |
LV Stay insulator | ea | 100 | Ceramic | |
M16 Stay rod complete | ea | 50 | Steel | |
Guy grip | ea | 110 | Steel | |
PG clamp 50 mm AL/AL | ea | 150 | Overhead line | |
PG clamp 50 mm AL/CU | ea | 150 | House connections | |
Cable lug 16 mm | ea | 240 | Steel | |
Distribution Board | ||||
4-Way distribution board | 60 | |||
DB space covers | ea | 120 | ||
63A 2-Pole mainswitch RCCB 30mA | ea | 60 | 2 poles confirmed | |
5A MCB | ea | 60 | ||
Earth rod 4ft | ea | 60 | ||
PVC | ||||
20 mm PVC conduits | bundle | 18 | 25 pieces in a bundle | |
20 mm PVC couplings | ea | 2200 | ||
20 mm PVC nipples | ea | 2000 | ||
20 mm PVC saddles | ea | 800 | ||
Round boxes | ea | 900 | ||
Round box covers | ea | 700 | ||
PVC boxes 175 × 150mm | ea | 60 | ||
PVC boxes 75 × 75mm | ea | 240 | ||
Electrical Fittings | ||||
Batten lampholder | ea | 128 | Ceramic | |
LED bulb 5 W | ea | 128 | Indoor light bulbs | |
Wall glass fitting | ea | 56 | Outside light bulb holder | |
LED bulb 10 W | ea | 56 | Outside light bulb | |
Double sockets | ea | 60 | ||
Switch: 1 gang 1 way | ea | 184 | Every light gets a 1 gang one way switch—option for 2 gang below | |
Switch: 2 gang 2 way | ea | 30 | Enough for half the houses if needed | |
Consumables | ||||
Self-tapping screws 1” 8G for PVC boxes | packet | 10 | ||
Insulation tape | roll | 10 | ||
Hacksaw blades | ea | 10 | ||
2” nails | kg | 4 |
Item | Lifetime, Years |
---|---|
Minigrid | 20 |
PV panel | 20 |
Battery | 10 |
Inverter | 10 |
Converter | 10 |
Shipping container | 25 |
Poles and stays | 30 |
Overhead equipment | 20 |
Heavy duty cabling | 30 |
Light duty cabling | 25 |
PVC components | 15 |
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Base Load with No e-Cooking | Base Load Plus 100% e-Cooking | |
---|---|---|
PV panel size, kWp|m2 (assume 16% efficiency) | 14.1|76.6 | 190|1032 |
Battery kWh | 41.1 | 124 |
Inverter kW | 5 | 20 |
Converter kW | 11.6 | 24 |
PV Efficiency 8% | PV Efficiency 16% | PV Efficiency 25% | |
---|---|---|---|
Human Health | 52.04 | 49.96 | 49.21 |
Ecosystems | 0.88 | 0.76 | 0.72 |
Resources | 0.19 | 0.15 | 0.13 |
PV Only | PV and Diesel Generator | |
---|---|---|
PV panel size, kWp|m2 (assume 16% efficiency) | 190|1032 | 81.1|440 |
Battery kWh | 124 | 110.4 |
Inverter kW | 20 | 20 |
Converter kW | 24 | 21.6 |
Diesel Generator kW | n/a | 28 |
Hours of Operation over 20 years | n/a | 4300 |
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Lee, J. Environmental Hotspot Assessment for a PV Mini-Grid Design: A Case Study for Malawi. Energies 2021, 14, 4227. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14144227
Lee J. Environmental Hotspot Assessment for a PV Mini-Grid Design: A Case Study for Malawi. Energies. 2021; 14(14):4227. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14144227
Chicago/Turabian StyleLee, Jacquetta. 2021. "Environmental Hotspot Assessment for a PV Mini-Grid Design: A Case Study for Malawi" Energies 14, no. 14: 4227. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14144227