Author Contributions
Conceptualization, S.M.B.; Data collection, S.M.B.; Network related analysis, S.M.B.; PV related analysis, G.P.; Methodology, S.M.B. and G.P.; Project administration and Resources, S.M.B.; Validation, S.M.B. and G.P.; Writing: original draft, G.P.; Writing: review and editing, S.M.B. and G.P.
Figure 1.
Typical procedure followed by planners for design of photovoltaics (PV) based rural electrification.
Figure 1.
Typical procedure followed by planners for design of photovoltaics (PV) based rural electrification.
Figure 2.
Map of Ghotiya village (courtesy: Chattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Authority (CREDA)).
Figure 2.
Map of Ghotiya village (courtesy: Chattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Authority (CREDA)).
Figure 3.
An aerial view of Rajmachi village, Maharashtra (circled in red).
Figure 3.
An aerial view of Rajmachi village, Maharashtra (circled in red).
Figure 4.
Map of Rajmachi village showing the customer load points (courtesy: Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA)).
Figure 4.
Map of Rajmachi village showing the customer load points (courtesy: Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA)).
Figure 5.
Load profile of the existing distribution system of Rajmachi village.
Figure 5.
Load profile of the existing distribution system of Rajmachi village.
Figure 6.
Experimental setup to analyse the load and voltage profiles.
Figure 6.
Experimental setup to analyse the load and voltage profiles.
Figure 7.
Block diagram of the central PV system with its main components.
Figure 7.
Block diagram of the central PV system with its main components.
Figure 8.
Spatial distribution of load points on the map of village and location of source. The X-axis shows the distance of load or source points from the estimated origin of the map in the west to east direction. The Y-axis shows the distance of load or source points from the estimated origin of the map in the south to north direction.
Figure 8.
Spatial distribution of load points on the map of village and location of source. The X-axis shows the distance of load or source points from the estimated origin of the map in the west to east direction. The Y-axis shows the distance of load or source points from the estimated origin of the map in the south to north direction.
Figure 9.
Network structure obtained using simulated annealing.
Figure 9.
Network structure obtained using simulated annealing.
Figure 10.
Variation of losses with location of PV system for a load of 1 kW.
Figure 10.
Variation of losses with location of PV system for a load of 1 kW.
Figure 11.
Variation of voltage profile with location of PV system for a load of 1 kW.
Figure 11.
Variation of voltage profile with location of PV system for a load of 1 kW.
Figure 12.
Variation of losses with location of PV system for a load of 5 kW.
Figure 12.
Variation of losses with location of PV system for a load of 5 kW.
Figure 13.
Variation of voltage profile with location of PV system for a load of 5 kW.
Figure 13.
Variation of voltage profile with location of PV system for a load of 5 kW.
Figure 14.
Variation of losses with location of PV system for a load of 10 kW.
Figure 14.
Variation of losses with location of PV system for a load of 10 kW.
Figure 15.
Variation of losses with location of PV system for a load of 10 kW.
Figure 15.
Variation of losses with location of PV system for a load of 10 kW.
Figure 16.
Proposed method for planning of isolated PV microgrids for rural electrification.
Figure 16.
Proposed method for planning of isolated PV microgrids for rural electrification.
Figure 17.
Load curve for the system considered.
Figure 17.
Load curve for the system considered.
Figure 18.
Spatial distribution load and optimal location of PV source obtained for the Rajmachi system.
Figure 18.
Spatial distribution load and optimal location of PV source obtained for the Rajmachi system.
Figure 19.
Network structure obtained for the Rajmachi system using simulated annealing. Also indicated is the actual location of PV source onsite.
Figure 19.
Network structure obtained for the Rajmachi system using simulated annealing. Also indicated is the actual location of PV source onsite.
Figure 20.
Variation of losses with location of PV system in the Rajmachi system.
Figure 20.
Variation of losses with location of PV system in the Rajmachi system.
Figure 21.
Voltage profile for different locations of PV system in the Rajmachi system.
Figure 21.
Voltage profile for different locations of PV system in the Rajmachi system.
Figure 22.
PVGIS5 Monthly PV energy output estimates.
Figure 22.
PVGIS5 Monthly PV energy output estimates.
Figure 23.
PVsyst per day monthly PV energy output estimates normalised per kWp.
Figure 23.
PVsyst per day monthly PV energy output estimates normalised per kWp.
Figure 24.
Comparison of PVGIS and PVsyst monthly outputs.
Figure 24.
Comparison of PVGIS and PVsyst monthly outputs.
Table 1.
Branch data for the Ghotiya village network.
Table 1.
Branch data for the Ghotiya village network.
From | To | Distance (m) | R (in p.u.) | X (in p.u.) |
---|
1 | 2 | 11 | 0.013 | 0.011 |
2 | 3 | 11 | 0.013 | 0.011 |
3 | 4 | 12 | 0.015 | 0.012 |
3 | 5 | 78 | 0.095 | 0.076 |
5 | 6 | 78 | 0.095 | 0.076 |
6 | 7 | 59 | 0.072 | 0.057 |
7 | 8 | 42 | 0.051 | 0.041 |
8 | 9 | 12 | 0.015 | 0.012 |
9 | 10 | 31 | 0.038 | 0.030 |
10 | 11 | 31 | 0.038 | 0.030 |
10 | 12 | 77 | 0.094 | 0.075 |
12 | 13 | 94 | 0.115 | 0.091 |
13 | 14 | 17 | 0.021 | 0.016 |
14 | 15 | 56 | 0.068 | 0.054 |
15 | 16 | 26 | 0.032 | 0.025 |
16 | 17 | 13 | 0.016 | 0.013 |
17 | 18 | 38 | 0.046 | 0.037 |
15 | 19 | 39 | 0.048 | 0.038 |
15 | 20 | 35 | 0.043 | 0.034 |
20 | 21 | 20 | 0.024 | 0.019 |
21 | 22 | 19 | 0.023 | 0.018 |
22 | 23 | 19 | 0.023 | 0.018 |
21 | 24 | 27 | 0.033 | 0.026 |
13 | 25 | 59 | 0.072 | 0.057 |
13 | 26 | 83 | 0.101 | 0.080 |
26 | 27 | 14 | 0.017 | 0.014 |
27 | 28 | 56 | 0.068 | 0.054 |
28 | 29 | 63 | 0.077 | 0.061 |
Table 2.
Load data of Rajmachi village.
Table 2.
Load data of Rajmachi village.
Load | No. of Units | Wattage | Coverage (fraction) | Connected Load (W) | No. of Households | Total |
---|
Domestic Lighting | 3 | 11 | 1 | 33 | 29 | 957 |
Street Lights | 1 | 11 | 0.5 | 5.5 | 29 | 159.5 |
Fans | 1 | 40 | 0.5 | 20 | 29 | 580 |
Refrigeration | 1 | 100 | - | 100 | 29 | 100 |
Television | 1 | 80 | 0.4 | 32 | 29 | 928 |
Radio | 1 | 5 | 0.4 | 1.75 | 29 | 58 |
Other Loads | 1 | 100 | 0.1 | 10 | 29 | 290 |
Table 3.
The main parameters of the central PV system from the final PVsyst design.
Table 3.
The main parameters of the central PV system from the final PVsyst design.
Parameter | Value |
---|
PV module technology | Monocrystalline Silicon |
Manufacturer and model | Ecosol PV tech Mono 75 Wp 36 cells |
No. of PV modules in series | 4 |
No. of parallel strings | 33 |
Array nominal (STC) power | 9.9 kWp |
MPPT converter maximum and European efficiencies | 97%/95% |
Battery technology | Lead acid |
Battery bank voltage | 48 V |
Nominal capacity | 7200 Ah |
Number of units | 24 in series × 8 in parallel |